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
Carroll County officials report that one home on Staples Dairy Road suffered structural damage, and multiple buildings on Liberty Church Road were destroyed in the storm.
—
Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Several Torahs were damaged or destroyed.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
By mid-December, at least 30 vessels had been destroyed in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
In the last years before the fires that destroyed Pacific Palisades, California, the great civic debate in my hometown was over the meaning of a shopping mall.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Several Torahs were damaged or destroyed.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
By mid-December, at least 30 vessels had been destroyed in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
In the last years before the fires that destroyed Pacific Palisades, California, the great civic debate in my hometown was over the meaning of a shopping mall.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Texans were ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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State television reported that Niger's forces responded quickly to the assault early Thursday, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Banfield took the stand in his own defense, acknowledging the affair with Peres Magalhães that started in August 2022 but denied any plans to kill his wife.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The World Food Program said in an earlier statement that its warehouse was demolished by Somali authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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The building will be demolished to make way for an 86-unit affordable housing development, according to board documents.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon National Park is preparing to reopen portions of the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the region last summer.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Through its Quds Force, the Guard backed regional groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, but recent Israeli strikes have devastated its network.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Monday is a chance to slay some of their infamous medal round demons.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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Stranger Things slayed at helping revive Eighties culture and music throughout its run, especially with its song choices.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sequence of Enoch among the heavenly hosts, violent, shattering with Blakeian geometry and color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Family describes unimaginable grief In a statement, Grace Brito's mother, Tracy Brito, described a family shattered by the loss of their daughter.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The hits wrecked the vehicle and deployed at least one of the airbags, according to the report.—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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