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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killing
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroying
Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.
—
Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Ripley then successfully detonated the charges, destroying the bridge and preventing the North Vietnamese army from advancing.
—Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Vonn's scars from destroying her leg in a horrific crash earlier this year were visible in the dress.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
The caterpillar bores into the stem through a tiny hole and tunnels inside the plant destroying tissue.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
Politicians are still destroying the peace just for their own power lust.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 June 2026
For decades, factories discharged pollution into waterways and wetlands, destroying natural habitats and forcing residents to live in the shadow of smokestacks and refineries.
—Gretchen Kalwinski, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
In my view, Iran is hellbent on destroying Israel and America.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Ripley then successfully detonated the charges, destroying the bridge and preventing the North Vietnamese army from advancing.
—Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Vonn's scars from destroying her leg in a horrific crash earlier this year were visible in the dress.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
The caterpillar bores into the stem through a tiny hole and tunnels inside the plant destroying tissue.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
Politicians are still destroying the peace just for their own power lust.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 June 2026
For decades, factories discharged pollution into waterways and wetlands, destroying natural habitats and forcing residents to live in the shadow of smokestacks and refineries.
—Gretchen Kalwinski, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
In my view, Iran is hellbent on destroying Israel and America.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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The antics each week involved lovable Gilligan ruining a plan to get the gang rescued, but also ogling the bombshell Ginger (Tina Louise) and getting annoyed by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus).—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Temperatures have risen in oceans faster due to climate change, super-charging storms and drought, ravaging coral reefs across the world, and endangering species in tandem with overfishing and industrial pollution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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And with injuries ravaging Canada’s back line, Sigur has the quality to quickly become an important part of their World Cup.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Tom then explains the actual Trolley Problem, the philosophical debate about having to choose whether to pull a lever that will prevent a runaway trolley from killing multiple people, but will still result in the death of a single person.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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But the Israeli military has yet to fully stop hostilities, killing at least four people in separate strikes Tuesday on Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
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What is in tandem here is the exuberantly generative possibility of life itself (SCOBY, water) alongside the very synthetic polymers that are literally wrecking life on an individual and systemic level.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
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Belt-Stubblefield did not stop and ended up wrecking his car.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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But Saeta, which has been outfitting the team since coming to its rescue after the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, has been struggling to keep up with demands, creating an opening for designers and other vendors selling unofficial merchandise.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
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The British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Kim — who faces murder charges in a 2016 killing in San Jose and a 2018 slaying in Westminster — was flown into Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, booked into the Anaheim city jail, turned over to the San Jose Police Department and then transported to Santa Clara County.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
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When Kostyuk hired Zaniewska, her main experience coaching on the WTA Tour was with Alizé Cornet, the French player with a penchant for slaying top-10 stars at Grand Slams.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Indeed, many media observers—inside and outside the network—have gone so far as to suggest that demolishing the status quo seems to be central to Weiss’s mandate.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
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In February 2024, police gave him and his wife minutes to pack before demolishing their home.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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People in the crowd also took bats to five NYPD vehicles and jumped on them, shattering front and back windows, officials said.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
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Videos online showed Knicks fans stomping on Citi Bikes, climbing street lamps, shattering windows and attacking taxi cabs.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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