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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroying
Since then, the Internet has gone about its immemorial business of destroying all incumbent forms of media; not content with vampirizing print, the digital space began sucking the life from pay-TV a dozen years ago.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Critics say returning the company without meaningful payment undercuts accountability and the compensatory purpose of the judgments; others note trustees and Judge Lopez have to avoid value-destroying, prolonged processes.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Cody Detwiler, popularly known through his YouTube channel ‘WhistlinDiesel’, tested a humanoid’s endurance capabilities with intense tasks, ultimately destroying the robot.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Over the last six years, Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been engaged in open warfare with British tabloids, accusing senior editors of authorizing unlawful intrusions into people's public lives, destroying friendships and relationships.
—Michael Holden, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Yan Wang was also charged with a felony for burglary and a misdemeanor for destroying evidence, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Just as everything seems to wrap up perfectly, the final scene reveals that earthquakes are destroying the world.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
In July, the Dragon Bravo Fire engulfed the more remote side of Grand Canyon National Park, destroying dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
If Ukraine needs to wear down the number of Russian artillery pieces, for instance, Fedorov can increase the number of points granted for destroying them.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Critics say returning the company without meaningful payment undercuts accountability and the compensatory purpose of the judgments; others note trustees and Judge Lopez have to avoid value-destroying, prolonged processes.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Cody Detwiler, popularly known through his YouTube channel ‘WhistlinDiesel’, tested a humanoid’s endurance capabilities with intense tasks, ultimately destroying the robot.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Over the last six years, Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been engaged in open warfare with British tabloids, accusing senior editors of authorizing unlawful intrusions into people's public lives, destroying friendships and relationships.
—Michael Holden, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Yan Wang was also charged with a felony for burglary and a misdemeanor for destroying evidence, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Just as everything seems to wrap up perfectly, the final scene reveals that earthquakes are destroying the world.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
In July, the Dragon Bravo Fire engulfed the more remote side of Grand Canyon National Park, destroying dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
If Ukraine needs to wear down the number of Russian artillery pieces, for instance, Fedorov can increase the number of points granted for destroying them.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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Or pursue the rancid criminal element across the galaxy as a bounty hunter, making your fortune by ruining bad guys' lives.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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So much so that the official Carol Burnett Show YouTube channel has several 15-minute salutes of Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, and others busting up and ruining the bit.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Giving Bad Bunny the space to spotlight his culture and politics is a bold move for Apple Music, Roc Nation, and the NFL, in light of the anti-Latino sentiment ravaging the country.—
Vanessa Diaz,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
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Three weeks later, the 41-year-old was forced to evacuate her home with her newborn due to the devastating fires ravaging Los Angeles.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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The emergency services Loeb was hearing were headed to the nearby Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, where an assailant rammed a car into people before stabbing several members of the community, killing two.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On July 21, 1715, a hurricane struck — wrecking the ships and releasing their treasures into the sea, according to The Associated Press.—
Ashley J. DiMella , Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Adam Berry/Getty Images What To Know Phoenix police said in a release to media that a 19-year-old was detained after wrecking a memorial for Kirk at the office of Turning Point USA, the conservative campus group that Kirk co-founded.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Oil was discovered there in the 1920s, and the county went through booms and busts for decades, enriching wildcatters and devastating the landscape, until a lasting bust left Loving County a virtual wasteland with no running water, paved roads, schools, hospitals, or grocery stores.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The forces of the lords put down the revolt by slaying somewhere between seventy thousand and a hundred thousand peasants.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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That anger was repeatedly cast beyond Tyler Robinson, the Utah man charged with slaying Kirk whose name went unsaid throughout the day’s services.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tens of thousands have been fleeing the city, which has seen Israel demolishing high-rise buildings.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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Preservationists stepped in to keep the company from its standard practice of demolishing a vacant building.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For leftovers, there’s a set of glass Pyrex containers that can be placed in the freezer or microwave with no worries about shattering.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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So to decide whether to marry or move on for good, one person issues an ultimatum, kicking off a potentially relationship-shattering experiment.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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