as in ruined
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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
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2
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
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3
as in killed
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroyed
Patrick McEnroe, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The fire killed two people, destroyed 1,084 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion in property damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
The fundraising dinner in Pacific Palisades marked the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed at least 31 people.
—Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
The value of the grass destroyed by the dig.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Government members wiped away tears as 95-year-old Mala Tribich described how Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 destroyed her childhood.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Eight years after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties destroyed 5,636 structures, Santa Rosa neighborhoods continued rebuilding, with more than 2,500 homes completed and hundreds more under construction.
—James Ward, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The severe inflation in the late 1940s that destroyed China’s anti-Communist middle class in urban areas helped enable Mao’s Communists to triumph in that country’s civil war.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Their body oils are going to be destroyed!
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Well, Federer just destroyed him — 6-1, 6-4 in about 50 minutes — and that left a lot of time to fill.
—Patrick McEnroe, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The fire killed two people, destroyed 1,084 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion in property damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
The fundraising dinner in Pacific Palisades marked the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed at least 31 people.
—Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
The value of the grass destroyed by the dig.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Government members wiped away tears as 95-year-old Mala Tribich described how Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 destroyed her childhood.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Eight years after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties destroyed 5,636 structures, Santa Rosa neighborhoods continued rebuilding, with more than 2,500 homes completed and hundreds more under construction.
—James Ward, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The severe inflation in the late 1940s that destroyed China’s anti-Communist middle class in urban areas helped enable Mao’s Communists to triumph in that country’s civil war.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Their body oils are going to be destroyed!
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroyed
Adjective
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His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The apartments will replace a vacant lot that once held Community Christian Church, which was demolished in 2022.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
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Israel has demolished more than 2,500 buildings in Gaza since the cease-fire began, according to a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery from Planet Labs.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In November, researchers published findings about the deadly pathogens that ravaged Napoleon's soldiers during his doomed 1812 retreat from Russia.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
29 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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Two days shy of the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that killed 67 people near the nation’s capital, the National Transportation Safety Board will meet to determine the probable cause of the midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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The fire killed two people, destroyed 1,084 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion in property damage.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The driver then got out of the wrecked vehicle and fled on foot, police said.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
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Lowell plunders an emerald out of a wrecked ship, starts a fistfight with a local ruler, nearly dies when a boa constrictor wraps itself around her neck, and is wounded by an alligator.—
Michael Waters,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the small-town-like tranquility that runs deep through this city of neighborhoods has been shattered in recent weeks.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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According to the police report, Boise Police Officer Cameron Kolos approached Galane and Idaho Potato Drop CEO Dylan Cline after the fireworks show, informing them that the windows at the AT&T building had shattered.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When 30-year-old Youssif Naim went missing earlier this month, leading to a community-wide search that ended when his body was found near Hines Park, like many others, Yasmeen Hamed was devastated.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Needless to say, at this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic news.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Tesla’s response—that of aggressive discounting—has protected volume but damaged margins and resale values.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Todorovich is focusing on enterprise-wide business models but is not placing buys or negotiating return to vendors involving returning defective, damaged or unsold merchandise back to the supplier or manufacturer.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroyed. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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