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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
Houses and business were destroyed.
—
Lynne Sullivan, The Providence Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Opponents argue that too much farmland being turned into solar farms will affect the country’s ability to feed itself at the national level and destroy the rural nature of life at the county level.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
This film explores the many ways that art can be destroyed or inhibited, including a NATO practice base making too much noise, the destruction of sets, and personal injury.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
The property is considered a dramatic evolution of Gropius’s earlier seminal Haus Sommerfeld, which was also located in Berlin, but destroyed in World War II.
—Bettina Schneuer, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Lynne Sullivan, The Providence Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Opponents argue that too much farmland being turned into solar farms will affect the country’s ability to feed itself at the national level and destroy the rural nature of life at the county level.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
This film explores the many ways that art can be destroyed or inhibited, including a NATO practice base making too much noise, the destruction of sets, and personal injury.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
The property is considered a dramatic evolution of Gropius’s earlier seminal Haus Sommerfeld, which was also located in Berlin, but destroyed in World War II.
—Bettina Schneuer, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Top awards executive Lisa Taback had her luggage ruined as well.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
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That’s when my Samsonite Paralux Carry-on ruined me for all other take-aboard luggage.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pollution has ravaged once-abundant stocks of fish and crab.—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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Sara Jo Mathews and her family did their part to fight the wildfire that ravaged New Mexico.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Six of the close friends and three guides are among the nine people killed or presumed dead in the avalanche near California’s Lake Tahoe - the nation’s deadliest in 45 years.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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So far, at least 40,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced, according to the World Health Organization.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the city of New York demolished the Polo Grounds in 1964, a crumbling concrete staircase stood forgotten as the last remaining vestige of the legendary stadium.—
Libby Cierzniak,
IndyStar,
20 Feb. 2026
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With his daughter, Lupel also tutored youngsters from the Cabrini-Green housing project before it was demolished.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Los Angeles County district attorney is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for its actions in last year’s devastating Eaton wildfire, which killed 19 people and left thousands of families homeless, the company said Wednesday.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Tanimoto’s father, who grew up in Hiroshima — the Japanese city later devastated by the first atomic bomb — immigrated to Hawaii before raising his family in Northern California and had recently retired from farming.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Most famous may be the Old Testament figure of David about to slay Goliath, originally made for the Cathedral of Florence.—
Virginia Raguin,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
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Robert Early Madden, 37, was found guilty by a San Diego Superior Court jury of first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of committing the killing during a robbery for the July 15, 2024, slaying of 38-year-old Senait Legesse.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jamerson’s dreams of a solid return to a school that snubbed him were shattered.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Officer Nik Anderson was struck in the arm, shattering his humerus bone.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From tiny insects like flies and butterflies at the edge of the frame, to large mountains, clouds full of rain, even great wrecking machines — everything is animated with precision and beauty.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
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The 1992 play was produced for the Paradise Factory theater in Greenwich Village, which credits Noonan for opening the space where an ice cream shop and hat factory operated before a fire wrecked the building.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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