Synonyms of destroy

destroy

verb

di-ˈstrȯi 

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

• ruin
• demolish
• devastate
• shatter
• wreck
• smash
• overcome
• damage
• waste
• annihilate
• erode
• extinguish
• decimate
• vaporize
• kill
• dismantle
• cripple
• pulverize
• raze
• ravage
• mar
• remove
• crush
• desolate
• defeat
• cream
• injure
• tear down
• subdue
• pull down
• break
• total
• nuke
• rub out
• blast
• conquer
• spoil
• wrack
• do in
• disintegrate
• best
• eradicate
• impair
• harm
• obliterate
• dissolve
• assassinate
• deteriorate
• mutilate
• disfigure
• lick
• trim
• master
• win (against)
• prevail (over)
• surmount
• deface
• triumph (over)
• exterminate
• vitiate
• undo
• sweep (away)
• slaughter
• rout
• wear (away)
• beat
• dynamite
• whip
• extirpate
• blow up
• disassemble
• plunder
• expunge
• thrash
• mangle
• slay
• scour
• wipe out
• liquidate
• scotch
• clobber
• unmake
• sack
• havoc
• despoil
• wash out
• fell
• execute
• vandalize
• trounce
• overbear
• trample
• efface
• murder
• loot
• overmatch
• blot out
• gut
• take down
• pillage
• cut down
• zap
• kill off
• massacre
• snuff (out)
• unbuild
• drub
• stamp (out)
• dispatch
• dilapidate
• take out
• wallop
• trash
• butcher
• root (out)
• mow (down)
• skunk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• raise
• create
• set up
• erect
• repair
• put up
• fix
• produce
• patch
• make
• rear
• protect
• establish
• invent
• form
• found
• mend
• manufacture
• preserve
• assemble
• save
• shape
• constitute
• organize
• forge
• fabricate
• restore
• bring about
• mold
• institute
• revamp
• recondition
• conserve
• rebuild
• frame
• fashion
• reconstruct
• doctor
• father
• renovate
• remodel

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

• ravage
• devastate
• ruin
• plunder
• scourge
• obliterate
• eradicate
• overwhelm
• wreck
• shatter
• sack
• annihilate
• despoil
• demolish
• vaporize
• desolate
• extinguish
• wipe out
• extirpate
• decimate
• expunge
• strip
• pillage
• loot
• waste
• smash
• overthrow
• total
• mow
• harry
• raze
• nuke
• overpower
• overrun
• maraud
• wrack
• foray
• crush
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restore
• recover
• rehabilitate
• redeem
• repair
• fix
• patch
• recondition
• mend
• revamp

3

as in to kill

to deprive of life

regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kill
• slay
• take
• dispatch
• fell
• claim
• carry off
• murder
• slaughter
• assassinate
• do for
• neutralize
• do away with
• annihilate
• croak
• do in
• decimate
• waste
• cut down
• make away with
• finish
• execute
• off
• smite
• kill off
• massacre
• take out
• mow
• butcher
• put away
• whack
• terminate
• blot out
• snuff
• get
• ice
• bump off
• rub out
• knock off
• suicide
• scrag
• put down
• euthanize
• martyr

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restore
• revive
• raise
• animate
• resurrect
• nurture
• resuscitate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of destroy

Before 1998, there was no medication to prevent HIV from destroying a patient's immune system, leaving them vulnerable to infections and rare cancers. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026

Some venoms paralyze respiratory muscles, while others destroy tissue, disrupt blood clotting, damage kidneys, or trigger cardiovascular collapse. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

Preventing the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon is surely a vital interest, and destroying Iran’s nuclear program is a clear objective that was plausibly attainable. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026

Rather than simply blocking mutant KRAS, a drug called Setidegrasib causes the cancer cell to destroy it. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026