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
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system specializes in destroying short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill kinetic interceptors.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 June 2026
The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
Andrea Peña is a 34-year-old resident of La Guaira, whose home was destroyed.
—
Fernando Narro Roman,
NPR,
28 June 2026
The ministry released photos of an eight-story building, its top floor destroyed and windows blown out.
—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 June 2026
The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
Andrea Peña is a 34-year-old resident of La Guaira, whose home was destroyed.
—
Fernando Narro Roman,
NPR,
28 June 2026
The ministry released photos of an eight-story building, its top floor destroyed and windows blown out.
—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Porsha deflects, saying Drew ruined the mood.
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Explosions had all but ruined my hearing.
Verb
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The tree’s limbs were lopped off in the wake of January 2025’s Eaton fire, which ravaged Altadena and part of Pasadena, but all these months after the fire, there’s new growth on the tree.
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Matthew Tkachuk, who has been a franchise-altering player since Florida acquired him in July 2022, has already won twice with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025 before injuries ravaged Florida’s 2025-26 season.
Verb
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The mother of a man killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike in Manhattan is demanding justice for her son.
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The one-two punch wreaked massive destruction throughout the region, killing at least 235 and wounding more than 4,300.
Verb
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Nationally, many facilities of that time have since been demolished as housing policies evolved, but New Britain’s housing authority kept the roughly 250-unit Mount Pleasant and now operates it as its oldest property.
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Ryan Blank, who lives in the Manor Avenue neighborhood, hung out with his neighbors across the street from the house that got demolished by a tree.
Verb
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For months, Uber and lawyers from across the state poured tens of millions into dueling ballot measures that threatened to devastate the profits of whichever side lost.
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The jury in the federal trial of the man accused of starting the deadly blaze that devastated the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles last year is deadlocked after two days of deliberations, the court said Thursday.
Verb
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Earle is there to be supportive, and to slay a dragon in her best copyright-dodging Red Sonja fit.
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Jace is then slain by enemy arrows.
Verb
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Many windows are shattered or boarded over with decaying plywood.
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Hundreds of records have already been shattered, with more expected as the heat intensifies today through Thursday.
Verb
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My polishing pads are always getting wrecked, used, or stolen by my dog (or all of those things).
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As many little heartbeats as possible, just running around, wrecking stuff in the house.
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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