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
Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
—
Kori McNair,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
In the film, three nerdy high school kids throw a small birthday celebration that spirals into a massive, neighborhood-destroying riot involving thousands of people and a flamethrower.
—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Connie Graham, of Fairmont, was arrested Thursday on charges of first-degree murder, altering, stealing or destroying criminal evidence and two counts of felony conspiracy.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Arnzen said the wildfire decimated the town, destroying nearly two-thirds of the homes.
—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The system also produces lymphocytes, the white blood cells responsible for identifying and destroying disease-causing microorganisms, Britannica notes.
—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2026
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system specializes in destroying short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill kinetic interceptors.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 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
Kori McNair,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
In the film, three nerdy high school kids throw a small birthday celebration that spirals into a massive, neighborhood-destroying riot involving thousands of people and a flamethrower.
—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Connie Graham, of Fairmont, was arrested Thursday on charges of first-degree murder, altering, stealing or destroying criminal evidence and two counts of felony conspiracy.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Arnzen said the wildfire decimated the town, destroying nearly two-thirds of the homes.
—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The system also produces lymphocytes, the white blood cells responsible for identifying and destroying disease-causing microorganisms, Britannica notes.
—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2026
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system specializes in destroying short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill kinetic interceptors.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
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The company was saving a few bucks but ruining its product.
Verb
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Forty years ago, when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging New York, some Southern Baptists described it as God’s judgment—a punishment for its victims’ life style.
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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.
Verb
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Murdaugh, once a powerful personal injury attorney in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, was convicted in 2023 of killing his wife, Maggie, 52, and their younger son, Paul, 22, at the family’s hunting estate in June 2021.
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Shiite and Sunni Muslims have been killing each other for centuries, and the status of women in some Muslims countries is deplorable.
Verb
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The blaze remained confined to the wrecking yard property, despite briefly jumping a fence and igniting vegetation to the west.
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The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray.
Verb
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The co-writer thing was a total disaster, devastating on every level.
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One week after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, relief efforts in South Florida continue at a steady pace.
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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Digital Realty already began demolishing the inside of the building, so Gray believed the agreement was set.
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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.
Verb
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SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has minted thousands of new millionaires, unleashing a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.
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The record-shattering heat waves in Europe last week and in the western US in March are two recent examples.
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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