destroyed 1 of 2

destroyed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of destroy
1
as in demolished
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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 destroyed
Verb
Most of the hospitals are taken over by gangs or have been destroyed, and … the economy’s not good. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 Two grandparents and their 3-year-old grandson were killed after multiple Russian drones destroyed their home in the Brovary district of Kyiv region, northeast of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early Saturday. ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 More than 800 homes have been destroyed and more than 60,000 people displaced thus far by the fires in and around Spokane, Washington. John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026 Cal Fire continues to battle the Gann Fire, which has burned more than 10,000 acres in Calaveras County and destroyed over a dozen structures. Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Nearly 90 percent of all water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Of the more than 98 fires that destroyed more than 100 homes, two-thirds hit over those seven years. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Local authorities said homes had been destroyed, but a complete count was not immediately available. Thomas Adamson, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 On the street outside, most homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroyed
Adjective
  • Sitting on the rim of his consciousness was always cataclysm, the muted whisper of a ruined world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Lower Emery Barn — It was built 1915-1916 and demolished in August 2025.
    Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The motel closed in the early 1990s, and much of the property was demolished after developers purchased the site in 2000.
    Dana Sauchelli, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Over the course of seven hours, a series of waves, some as high as 30 feet, ravaged 15 countries including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, killing more than 200,000 people and leaving millions without food, water, shelter, or jobs.
    Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sinaloa has in recent years been ravaged by warring between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That same day, the Houthis launched a flurry of attacks that reportedly killed and wounded dozens near the Yemen-Saudi border – sparking condemnation from Jordanian, Bahraini and Kuwaiti authorities.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Investigations are ongoing into how cyanide found its way to an ecosystem where wild and domestic animals coexist and farms grow tomatoes and onions, but growers are disputing claims that cyanide from their tomatoes killed the elephants.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Police and first responders were already on scene, cutting the roof off the wrecked car to rescue the individuals inside, who were put into ambulances.
    Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
  • The second flood has left behind more than wrecked homes, reopening trauma wounds for many survivors.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • More than 180 bullets pierced, cracked or shattered windows in six buildings on campus.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The group shattered windows, stole or attempted to steal cash, register drawers and safes.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The massacre devastated Wilmington’s flourishing Black middle class and sent a message of impunity to white vigilantes nationwide.
    Namara Smith, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Village, which survived the disaster even as much of the rest of the surrounding downtown commercial corridor was devastated, has undergone an extensive restoration.
    Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Moghnie’s mother-in-law is still there, for instance, her home still standing, despite damaged walls and shattered windows from nearby bombings.
    Ava Bambuck, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • At the time, residents had shared reports on neighborhood Facebook groups that included photos of damaged tires and doorbell camera footage.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Destroyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroyed. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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