DESTROY Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

destroy

verb

di-ˈstrȯi

Definition of destroy

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

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of destroy In less than a decade, wildfires destroyed forests across 95% of the tribe’s homelands. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Reporters at The Insider, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde suggested this might involve a cloud of high-density projectiles that could destroy Starlink satellites upon collision. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026 Individuals face criminal citations and prosecutions over living outside, and personal property that’s stored in public is frequently destroyed. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 Among its first targets were Russian air-defense systems, which, since March of 2025, have made up more than half of all targets destroyed by Ukrainian drones. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for destroy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy

Verb

However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
But Neill doesn’t lean into the crotchety loner stereotype that could have ruined the entire film, finding a core of relatable decency in this outsider that instead holds the whole effort together with an honest humanity reflected in his choices.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

Fellow Club stock Salesforce has been ravaged even more severely — plunging 36% year to date for the same reason.

— Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Guitars take the place of shovels, as Henry now repays Carlos’ kindness by helping to save the land that Carlos assumes is ravaged.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of ravage

Verb

During the first four months of 2026 alone, drone strikes killed at least 880 civilians and accounted for more than 80% of civilian deaths recorded by the UN.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The fire killed 168 people, most likely because of unscrupulous contractors who used shoddy materials.

— New York Times, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of kill

Verb

West Harbor is the redevelopment of the former waterfront Ports O'Call Village, which was demolished in 2018.

— Julie Sharp, CBS News, 14 July 2026
The two-acre space was the site of the California State Building, which suffered systemic damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and was demolished five years later.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

Of course, they’re devastated, and so is Clark, who is left with an ideal, a paragon of self-sacrifice, a superhero to remember and look up to, but not a friend.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
This all comes after reports that Lively was devastated not to get an invite to Swift’s wedding.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 July 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

An Oregon man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for a November 1981 Griffith cold case slaying.

— Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026
One person was killed near Summit Avenue and North 39th Street; three were killed at the Samuel Gompers Homes; and one more was slain at Jones Park, where two others were also wounded.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 13 July 2026

Definition of slay

Verb

Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor for security and law enforcement of Khuzestan Province, where Ahvaz is located, reported that a strike caused damage to nearby homes and shattered the windows of some housing units, according to IRIB.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Reed struck an officer twice in the forearm with the broomstick, which shattered upon impact with the officer’s arm.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026

Definition of shatter

Verb

Those findings may sound like proof the job wrecks your hormones.

— Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Long-distance backpacking is having a moment, and readers planning a first thru-hike want to know how to prepare without wrecking their body, their gear budget or their trip.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Definition of wreck

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de-stressing

destroy

destroyed

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“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of destroy

verb

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