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
City News Service, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
This preserves the potency of the compounds that might otherwise be destroyed by long boiling times.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 17 Feb. 2026
Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Cisternino said days of heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas had battered the coastline and ultimately destroyed the arch.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
There have been other suspicious fires on this street in past years, including at the Casa Bella furniture store, which burned down in 2023, and Iceland skating rink, which was destroyed by an arsonist in 2010.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The fire killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 homes, businesses and other structures.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Hefner said the photos should be destroyed.
—City News Service, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
This preserves the potency of the compounds that might otherwise be destroyed by long boiling times.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 17 Feb. 2026
Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Cisternino said days of heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas had battered the coastline and ultimately destroyed the arch.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
There have been other suspicious fires on this street in past years, including at the Casa Bella furniture store, which burned down in 2023, and Iceland skating rink, which was destroyed by an arsonist in 2010.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The fire killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 homes, businesses and other structures.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroyed
Adjective
-
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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Even if there were sites that did not get preserved, or were demolished, there were debates over whether that should happen.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Willowcreek Middle School will remain until its replacement is ready for use, then demolished to make way for the rest of the project.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Despite their house being reduced to rubble and Gaza ravaged by conflict, the family is relieved and happy to finally be home.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Sara Jo Mathews and her family did their part to fight the wildfire that ravaged New Mexico.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But seething popular anger has not abated in the weeks following a government crackdown that killed thousands of protesters, according to accounts from inside the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Silas, 29, and Tishauna Ballard, 24, were killed; two others were injured.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Helicopter footage showed the man darting out from the wrecked Charger in a black T-shirt and white shorts.—
Jacob Beltran,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Feb. 2026
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The chase ended when the suspect crashed and ran from the wrecked vehicle, officials said.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even the random animals — birds, deer, dogs, cats and, at one point, a peacock — the director encounters on her journeys around Negev seem to be shattered by years of bombing.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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Pim Neill, a 6-year-old girl from Pittsburgh, shattered the Pennsylvania state record by selling more than 81,000 boxes of cookies, the most ever sold in a single season.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whitaker and Perlah, who know about Louie’s advanced liver disease and see his care as routine, will be devastated to learn Louie is gone.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
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See the aftermath from above Infrastructure devastated There have been reports of severe damage to the area's infrastructure, including the city's hospital, schools and businesses.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight recommends focusing on products that support scalp health and strengthen the hair fibers — like the Epres bond repair treatment, which can repair and fortify damaged strands.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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Take the plant from its pot and cut away any dead or damaged roots, then repot the plant in fresh soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroyed. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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