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

Worried about artificial intelligence destroying all of humanity soon, or, alternatively, turning your toaster or other home appliances against you? — Paul Knoepfler, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026

The hospital now offers bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapy, an innovative immunotherapy that harnesses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

The test showed that an existing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket could change targets during flight and destroy a moving target. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

What eventually inspired me to destroy the world, in my way, was watching my son’s path. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026