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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroying
Modesto Fire Department Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire, preventing it from destroying the home, officials said.
—
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
By the way, the last scene of The Conversation has the paranoid Gene Hackman destroying his apartment in a desperate and futile search for listening devices.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Is Laura being paranoid, or is Cherry actually set on destroying Laura’s life?
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu said this week that Israel’s focus is on disarming Hamas and destroying its remaining tunnels.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring young people and destroying Iran’s future.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Currently the funds spent by governments and the private sector on destroying biodiversty and degrading cosystems like forests and seagrasses are 30 times larger than the flows supporting conservation, restoration and protection of the natural world.
—Nick Nuttall, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
Where, in the springtime, sudden storms send tornadoes tearing through towns, destroying everything in their wake.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
By the way, the last scene of The Conversation has the paranoid Gene Hackman destroying his apartment in a desperate and futile search for listening devices.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Is Laura being paranoid, or is Cherry actually set on destroying Laura’s life?
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu said this week that Israel’s focus is on disarming Hamas and destroying its remaining tunnels.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring young people and destroying Iran’s future.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Currently the funds spent by governments and the private sector on destroying biodiversty and degrading cosystems like forests and seagrasses are 30 times larger than the flows supporting conservation, restoration and protection of the natural world.
—Nick Nuttall, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.
—CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
Where, in the springtime, sudden storms send tornadoes tearing through towns, destroying everything in their wake.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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In fact, for some items, a standard cold wash can be ruining.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Dodgers’ $240-million signing of Kyle Tucker revived anguished cries that the team is ruining baseball.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
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Already the fires ravaging the hillsides forced 50,000 people to evacuate.—
Javier Torres,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump has warned against killing protesters and had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Tehran does not change course.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Many did not experience concentration camps but were forced to flee villages and towns as Nazi forces advanced, destroying homes and killing millions.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dosunmu operated at times like a one-man wrecking crew, forcing his way downhill in the half court and cracking open the Heat’s confounded defense in the flow of transition.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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At other locations in the valley, hospices operated inside strip malls alongside burrito stands, nail salons, dance studios, tax preparers and even an auto parts store and wrecking yard.—
William La Jeunesse,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While an eight-game winning run saw Cherki, Foden and Haaland hit their devastating best, three frustrating draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were characterised by wastefulness in front of goal.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Group members want to see Bonta’s office take ownership of a review, as occurred in Hawaii after Maui’s devastating Lahaina fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Imagine our surprise when the new South Florida resident popped up at the Sports Illustrated show at Miami Swim Week in June, slaying the catwalk like a boss.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
27 Dec. 2025
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Now, the roles are reversed and he’s tasked with slaying the giant.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Crews are demolishing Westport infrastructure to construct an underground storage basin to hold water that previously would have flooded Westport buildings.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
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On Thursday morning, crews were nearly finished demolishing the adjacent structures, one of which was damaged by a fire in March 2024.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This set from the Good Grips collection is made of borosilicate glass, which is food-safe like standard glass, but also more resistant to heat—meaning it can be taken out of the freezer and popped straight into the microwave to reheat leftovers without shattering.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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Both films feature an early phone call which is clearly shattering for their characters.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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