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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The sugar company pulled out a few years later after freezes and floods destroyed the crops.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
According to federal officials, the tornado uprooted trees, snapped telephone poles and destroyed a barn wall in an area just south of Hull Road between Elwell and Bak roads.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Both the aircraft that were destroyed were MC-130Js, which are specifically designed for special operations missions.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Ukraine responded with quick innovation of its own, including low-cost interceptor drones designed to track and destroy incoming attack drones.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
According to federal officials, the tornado uprooted trees, snapped telephone poles and destroyed a barn wall in an area just south of Hull Road between Elwell and Bak roads.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Both the aircraft that were destroyed were MC-130Js, which are specifically designed for special operations missions.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Ukraine responded with quick innovation of its own, including low-cost interceptor drones designed to track and destroy incoming attack drones.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Talley went long with an 8-iron into a back bunker on the 12th, the hole that ruined Jordan Spieth's chances of a repeat Masters victory in 2016.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The multiple mistresses ruined his image; the countless injuries derailed his golf game.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fire had consumed the backside of the split-level home, ravaged the kids’ bedrooms and almost every corner of the home.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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Florida’s season had been ravaged by injuries from the very beginning.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Several bills to increase restrictions have already been killed this legislative session, with a single measure to digitize reports still alive.—
Thomas Heaton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chappaquiddick would have demolished the career of most, but not Ted, and not in Kennedy country.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Last fall, a portion of the White House East Wing was demolished to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Florida’s citrus industry has been in a steady decline the past 25 years because of Huanglongbing (also known as HLB and citrus greening disease), a bacterial disease that devastates citrus trees.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
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Last year saw 13 named storms, including five hurricanes, most notably Category 5 Melissa, which devastated Jamaica.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
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During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In this case, the arc of the season was primed for Batula to be the victim rising from the ashes of her divorce, only for her recent romantic indiscretions to shatter that fantasy.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
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March 2026 was a historic month for temperatures in the United States, fueled by an extraordinary and prolonged heat wave that shattered temperature records across much of the West, according to a new report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump's rocky relationship with NATO dates back to his first term, but the war with Iran has wrecked any remaining foundation, NPR's Franco Ordoñez says.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
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One is a search for stability, driven by a horror of chaos and by memories of the mayhem that wrecked his childhood and banished him to the cave.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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