Synonyms of destroying

destroying

verb

present participle of destroy

1

as in ruining

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

• ruining
• wrecking
• demolishing
• shattering
• devastating
• smashing
• damaging
• wasting
• overcoming
• eroding
• extinguishing
• annihilating
• decimating
• marring
• dismantling
• crippling
• razing
• killing
• vaporizing
• pulverizing
• ravaging
• removing
• crushing
• defeating
• blasting
• totalling
• totaling
• breaking
• injuring
• nuking
• subduing
• wracking
• tearing down
• creaming
• pulling down
• doing in
• conquering
• harming
• disintegrating
• spoiling
• desolating
• impairing
• eradicating
• trimming
• deteriorating
• mutilating
• licking
• dissolving
• mastering
• rubbing out
• obliterating
• defacing
• surmounting
• assassinating
• dynamiting
• whipping
• vandalizing
• slaughtering
• prevailing (over)
• disfiguring
• winning (against)
• undoing
• routing
• murdering
• plundering
• beating
• mangling
• exterminating
• scouring
• gutting
• vitiating
• besting
• thrashing
• wearing (away)
• disassembling
• clobbering
• triumphing (over)
• sweeping (away)
• liquidating
• sacking
• despoiling
• expunging
• extirpating
• looting
• executing
• trampling
• trashing
• walloping
• massacring
• pillaging
• effacing
• blowing up
• trouncing
• slaying
• wiping out
• overmatching
• washing out
• scotching
• dispatching
• taking down
• zapping
• overbearing
• butchering
• unmaking
• cutting down
• stamping (out)
• blotting out
• dilapidating
• drubbing
• rooting (out)
• unbuilding
• killing off
• felling
• snuffing (out)
• taking out
• mowing (down)
• skunking
• havocking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• building
• constructing
• creating
• raising
• repairing
• erecting
• fixing
• rearing
• producing
• setting up
• making
• forming
• putting up
• establishing
• inventing
• shaping
• manufacturing
• assembling
• protecting
• forging
• preserving
• organizing
• saving
• framing
• fashioning
• constituting
• molding
• revamping
• fabricating
• patching
• reconditioning
• restoring
• mending
• instituting
• conserving
• bringing about
• doctoring
• founding
• rebuilding
• reconstructing
• remodeling
• fathering
• renovating

2

as in ravaging

to bring destruction to (something) through violent action

wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ravaging
• devastating
• ruining
• wrecking
• plundering
• obliterating
• shattering
• eradicating
• stripping
• scourging
• despoiling
• looting
• demolishing
• pillaging
• sacking
• annihilating
• extinguishing
• vaporizing
• decimating
• marauding
• wasting
• totalling
• smashing
• expunging
• extirpating
• harrying
• wiping out
• totaling
• overwhelming
• razing
• nuking
• wracking
• mowing
• overthrowing
• desolating
• overrunning
• foraying
• overpowering
• crushing
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• recovering
• rehabilitating
• repairing
• fixing
• redeeming
• reconditioning
• mending
• patching
• revamping

3

as in killing

to deprive of life

regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• killing
• slaying
• taking
• murdering
• dispatching
• claiming
• slaughtering
• felling
• carrying off
• assassinating
• doing away with
• doing for
• neutralizing
• doing in
• croaking
• wasting
• making away with
• annihilating
• decimating
• massacring
• finishing
• snuffing
• butchering
• cutting down
• whacking
• executing
• smiting
• mowing
• offing
• terminating
• getting
• taking out
• killing off
• putting away
• rubbing out
• blotting out
• knocking off
• icing
• bumping off
• scragging
• martyring
• euthanizing
• putting down
• suiciding
• euthanatizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• animating
• raising
• reviving
• resurrecting
• nurturing
• resuscitating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of destroying

Online records show that Lamb was charged with homicide, kidnap-false imprisonment, evidence-destroying and procure for prostitute. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025

But if enacted, some of the ideas proposed also risk destroying a nascent private sector and worsening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025

According to the Monroe County arrest roster, Lamb has been charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, evidence destroying and procuring another for prostitution. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Fixed an issue where destroying the alarm bell does not always make NPCs investigate it. —Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Ukraine’s 225th separate assault regiment said the video shows its forces destroying two bridges in Belgorod, in the villages of Grafovka and Nadezhevka. —Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025

Then Hurricane Helene devastated the southwestern part of the state and wreaked havoc on the Blue Ridge Parkway, destroying people's homes and rendering roads impassable. —Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025

However, Tehran’s two recent direct attacks on Israel with ballistic missiles and drones caused negligible damage, while Israel responded by destroying Iranian air defense systems. —Amir Vahdat, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025

The quake struck around lunchtime on Friday, destroying buildings and bridges. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025