1
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
This type of policy dispute may be emotional but won’t fundamentally destroy mutual respect and goodwill.
—
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
Groundhogs are known to destroy gardens, pastures and agricultural crops, while their burrows have been known to injure livestock and damage farm equipment and building foundations.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Composting leaves destroys juglone in 6 to 12 months, but hulls take much longer.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Palestinians see Rafah as a lifeline for the tens of thousands in need of treatment outside the territory, where the majority of medical infrastructure has been destroyed.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
Groundhogs are known to destroy gardens, pastures and agricultural crops, while their burrows have been known to injure livestock and damage farm equipment and building foundations.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Composting leaves destroys juglone in 6 to 12 months, but hulls take much longer.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Palestinians see Rafah as a lifeline for the tens of thousands in need of treatment outside the territory, where the majority of medical infrastructure has been destroyed.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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To say much more would be to ruin the wild twists and turns that unfold as the night marches onward.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Texans were ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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State television reported that Niger's forces responded quickly to the assault early Thursday, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Banfield took the stand in his own defense, acknowledging the affair with Peres Magalhães that started in August 2022 but denied any plans to kill his wife.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The World Food Program said in an earlier statement that its warehouse was demolished by Somali authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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The building will be demolished to make way for an 86-unit affordable housing development, according to board documents.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon National Park is preparing to reopen portions of the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the region last summer.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Through its Quds Force, the Guard backed regional groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, but recent Israeli strikes have devastated its network.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In December, before Christmas, the rapper also appeared onstage with conservative activist Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, who was slain in September at Utah Valley University.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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Pretti and Good were both slain by federal agents on the streets of the city.—
Cathy Applefeld Olson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sequence of Enoch among the heavenly hosts, violent, shattering with Blakeian geometry and color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Family describes unimaginable grief In a statement, Grace Brito's mother, Tracy Brito, described a family shattered by the loss of their daughter.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The hits wrecked the vehicle and deployed at least one of the airbags, according to the report.—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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