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
That second blaze burned charred 23,500 acres in that community, Malibu and elsewhere, killing 12 people and destroying or damaging more than 7,500 homes and businesses.
—
Sierra Van Der Brug,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
These kinds of old negatives are often stored inside cans and are so fragile they can’t be unrolled without destroying them, Seales says.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
Bobby Matthew McLellan, 42, of Lumberton, is charged with accessory after the fact, felony conspiracy, and altering/stealing/destroying criminal evidence, officials said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 June 2026
The reason is that both will battle it out and stop at nothing to win, even if that means destroying a whole galaxy.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
The harder work is building enough trust, across enough rooms, that the truth can enter public life without destroying the person who speaks it.
—
Penny Abeywardena,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
In short, Iran has rational reasons for wanting a nuclear weapon that go far beyond the fanatical notion of destroying Israel and The Great Satan.
—
John M. Crisp,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
The actors most capable of destroying the agreement are precisely those least constrained by it.
—
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.
—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Sierra Van Der Brug,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
These kinds of old negatives are often stored inside cans and are so fragile they can’t be unrolled without destroying them, Seales says.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
Bobby Matthew McLellan, 42, of Lumberton, is charged with accessory after the fact, felony conspiracy, and altering/stealing/destroying criminal evidence, officials said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 June 2026
The reason is that both will battle it out and stop at nothing to win, even if that means destroying a whole galaxy.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
The harder work is building enough trust, across enough rooms, that the truth can enter public life without destroying the person who speaks it.
—
Penny Abeywardena,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
In short, Iran has rational reasons for wanting a nuclear weapon that go far beyond the fanatical notion of destroying Israel and The Great Satan.
—
John M. Crisp,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
The actors most capable of destroying the agreement are precisely those least constrained by it.
—
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.
—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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The Cowboys are like most NFL teams that roll out a synthetic surface that has a grass feel, and is vastly superior to the old knee-ruining ways of AstroTurf.
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The Dodgers are ruining baseball!
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.
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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.
Verb
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In January 2024, Mansfield confessed to killing 18-year-old Carol Ann Barrett more than four decades earlier.
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He is accused of killing a man on March 13, 2022, Broward court records show.
Verb
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As many little heartbeats as possible, just running around, wrecking stuff in the house.
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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.
Verb
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Loss of this support, which is said to cover 25% of the center’s operating costs, would have been devastating both financially and reputationally.
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These giant invasive snakes are devastating the Everglades ecosystem by eating through the native food web without any natural predators to keep them in check.
Verb
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The new team, nicknamed the Vatreni (the blazers or the fiery ones), was considered a rank outsider, and few expected the masterful giant-slaying campaign that Croatia delivered.
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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.
Verb
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But everyday people expressed their political outrage time and again, throwing rocks at and demolishing the houses of government officials, torching the king’s ships and forts and, eventually, marching to battle.
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During that 25-day closure, PennDOT crews will be demolishing the existing Commercial Street Bridge and sliding in the new bridge, which has been constructed alongside the Parkway East outside of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.
Verb
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The brand was already the most searched name on Ulta’s site before the line expanded to the retailer’s 1,500-plus doors in February, shattering sales records and becoming the chain’s largest brand launch ever.
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Ratings from the opening match went through the roof, shattering records.
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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