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
In the team's binary merger model, the compact object is close enough to its stellar companion to rip off its outer hydrogen layer without completely destroying the star.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 May 2026
The fires hit close to home, destroying both Pratt’s Pacific Palisades residence and his parents’ home.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Instead of further destroying the city, the large Chakzilla rebuilds it through the magic of her presence.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Twisters tore through southern Mississippi late Wednesday, destroying homes and blocking roadways with debris.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 7 May 2026
Many people are interested in exploiting our land, destroying the environment for many while lining the pockets of the few.
—Thomas Patier, Artforum, 6 May 2026
The Israeli military is investigating after a photo circulating on social media shows a soldier appearing to desecrate a statue of the Virgin Mary in Debel, Lebanon – the same town where Israeli soldiers were photographed destroying a crucifix last month.
—Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Some had been there so long that corrosion was destroying them.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 May 2026
The fires hit close to home, destroying both Pratt’s Pacific Palisades residence and his parents’ home.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Instead of further destroying the city, the large Chakzilla rebuilds it through the magic of her presence.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Twisters tore through southern Mississippi late Wednesday, destroying homes and blocking roadways with debris.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 7 May 2026
Many people are interested in exploiting our land, destroying the environment for many while lining the pockets of the few.
—Thomas Patier, Artforum, 6 May 2026
The Israeli military is investigating after a photo circulating on social media shows a soldier appearing to desecrate a statue of the Virgin Mary in Debel, Lebanon – the same town where Israeli soldiers were photographed destroying a crucifix last month.
—Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Some had been there so long that corrosion was destroying them.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
-
Most homeowners are surprised to learn the buzzing nuisance ruining their evenings probably started life just steps from the back door.—
Ryan Brennan
April 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen, ruining a dominant performance by Tarik Skubal and rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Saturday, Moscow pummeled the central city of Dnipro and other areas for more than twenty hours with barrages of missiles and drones, killing at least seven people.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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The coastal Georgia man arrested in 2018 and accused of torturing, killing and burying his two teenage children in the backyard of the family’s mobile home will spend the rest of his life behind bars after reaching a plea deal.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Bills will head into the season without a true, identifiable game-wrecking defensive player on the roster.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people.—
Perin Gürel,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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House Republicans approved the resolution last month despite conservationists’ warnings that the move would lead to devastating pollution in one of the country’s last remaining wild areas.—
Todd Richmond,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
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Two tornadoes ripped through west Michigan on April 14, devastating a family dairy farm in Fenick, releasing hundreds of cows and leaving thousands without power.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead of slaying a burgundy and blue dragon by taking out the Avs’ second-best player, the Wild officially woke up the beast.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
-
Behold, summer is officially here with two movies that are slaying around the globe.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
8 May 2026
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The Preakness is taking place at Laurel Park between Baltimore and Washington this spring while its longtime home, Pimlico Race Course, is rebuilt as part of a massive construction project that included demolishing the debilitating old structure.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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On April 12, Péter Magyar of the Tisza party won by a landslide, altering the course of Hungary’s history and shattering voter turnout records.—
Alexandra Levy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Meyer still brokers earth-shattering private deals, but for the last decade, he’s been sorting through Si’s deep collection.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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