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
The military has also been targeting and destroying high-rise buildings surrounding displacement camps, crowding Gaza City’s residents into ever-smaller spaces.
—
Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, North was found guilty of destroying official documents, accepting a home security system as a gift and obstructing Congress in 1989.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
The fire, started by an Orange County Public Works crew working with heavy machinery in Trabuco Canyon on a hot summer day, had made its way into Riverside County and was on the precipice of destroying one of the rare remaining rural communities in the area.
—Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
August's heavy rainfall pummeled the greater Milwaukee area, destroying 51 homes, displacing nearly 50 people, damaging 4,500 residential and commercial buildings and causing at least $76 million in property damage.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
His company's main product—pitons, the metal spikes climbers hammered into rock faces—was literally destroying the granite walls of Yosemite.
—Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
That fire burned more than 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) of forest, killing two people and destroying 44 structures.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, North was found guilty of destroying official documents, accepting a home security system as a gift and obstructing Congress in 1989.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
The fire, started by an Orange County Public Works crew working with heavy machinery in Trabuco Canyon on a hot summer day, had made its way into Riverside County and was on the precipice of destroying one of the rare remaining rural communities in the area.
—Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
August's heavy rainfall pummeled the greater Milwaukee area, destroying 51 homes, displacing nearly 50 people, damaging 4,500 residential and commercial buildings and causing at least $76 million in property damage.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
His company's main product—pitons, the metal spikes climbers hammered into rock faces—was literally destroying the granite walls of Yosemite.
—Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
That fire burned more than 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) of forest, killing two people and destroying 44 structures.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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Car designers love them for not ruining the lines of the door with the necessities of real life, but is the benefit from drag reduction worth the safety risk?—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
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And broadcasting your irritation too loudly risks ruining the atmosphere for everyone else just as much as their yelling or off-key chants.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But on an evening back in July, inordinate rainfall led to unrelenting floodwaters ravaging the lower level of Pledger’s home.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
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Spain is deploying 500 more soldiers to fight wildfires ravaging the country, as southern Europe faces a wave of extreme climate events fueled by heatwaves.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The apology came less than 24 hours after an unidentified shooter opened fire at a college university killing Kirk, a media personality and author.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Come to the table, as Republicans and Democrats, to pass solutions to the epidemic of gun violence that’s killing both of us.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than just devastating the lives of these commuters — most of whom earn under $49,000 per year and work blue-collar jobs — each of these cars on the freeway is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.—
Stan Oklobdzija,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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After a series of devastating airstrikes, the Israeli military is sending its ground forces into Gaza City, causing thousands of Palestinians to flee and escalating a humanitarian crisis in the region.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just a few weeks ago, Chloë Sevigny was busy slaying the Venice Film Festival red carpet in extremely-cool Simone Rocha and Saint Laurent looks.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
14 Sep. 2025
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Mangione is accused of slaying UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The group also recently stepped out together at a University of Cincinnati football game, which just so happened to be Swift and Kelce’s first public outing since announcing their plans to get married with an internet-shattering post on Instagram in August.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
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Pamela Warner, mother and manager of the late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, reflected on the life-shattering moment her son had untimely passed away.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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