Synonyms of destroying

destroying

verb

present participle of destroy

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

• ruining
• wrecking
• demolishing
• shattering
• devastating
• smashing
• damaging
• wasting
• overcoming
• eroding
• extinguishing
• annihilating
• decimating
• marring
• dismantling
• crippling
• razing
• killing
• vaporizing
• ravaging
• pulverizing
• removing
• crushing
• defeating
• blasting
• totaling
• breaking
• injuring
• nuking
• subduing
• wracking
• tearing down
• creaming
• pulling down
• doing in
• conquering
• harming
• disintegrating
• spoiling
• desolating
• impairing
• eradicating
• deteriorating
• trimming
• mutilating
• licking
• dissolving
• mastering
• rubbing out
• obliterating
• defacing
• surmounting
• clobbering
• assassinating
• dynamiting
• whipping
• vandalizing
• prevailing (over)
• slaughtering
• disfiguring
• winning (against)
• undoing
• routing
• murdering
• plundering
• beating
• mangling
• exterminating
• scouring
• gutting
• vitiating
• besting
• thrashing
• wearing (away)
• disassembling
• triumphing (over)
• sweeping (away)
• sacking
• liquidating
• despoiling
• expunging
• extirpating
• looting
• trampling
• executing
• trashing
• walloping
• massacring
• pillaging
• effacing
• blowing up
• trouncing
• slaying
• wiping out
• overmatching
• washing out
• scotching
• dispatching
• taking down
• zapping
• overbearing
• butchering
• unmaking
• cutting down
• stamping (out)
• blotting out
• dilapidating
• drubbing
• rooting (out)
• unbuilding
• killing off
• felling
• snuffing (out)
• taking out
• mowing (down)
• skunking
• havocking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• building
• constructing
• creating
• raising
• repairing
• erecting
• fixing
• rearing
• producing
• setting up
• making
• forming
• putting up
• establishing
• inventing
• shaping
• manufacturing
• assembling
• protecting
• forging
• preserving
• organizing
• saving
• framing
• fashioning
• constituting
• molding
• revamping
• fabricating
• patching
• reconditioning
• restoring
• mending
• instituting
• conserving
• bringing about
• doctoring
• founding
• rebuilding
• reconstructing
• remodeling
• fathering
• renovating

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

• ravaging
• devastating
• ruining
• wrecking
• plundering
• obliterating
• eradicating
• shattering
• scourging
• stripping
• despoiling
• looting
• demolishing
• pillaging
• sacking
• annihilating
• extinguishing
• vaporizing
• decimating
• marauding
• wasting
• smashing
• expunging
• extirpating
• harrying
• wiping out
• totaling
• overwhelming
• razing
• nuking
• wracking
• mowing
• overthrowing
• desolating
• overrunning
• foraying
• overpowering
• crushing
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• recovering
• rehabilitating
• repairing
• fixing
• redeeming
• reconditioning
• mending
• patching
• revamping

3

as in killing

to deprive of life

regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• killing
• slaying
• taking
• murdering
• dispatching
• claiming
• slaughtering
• felling
• carrying off
• doing away with
• assassinating
• doing for
• neutralizing
• doing in
• croaking
• wasting
• annihilating
• decimating
• finishing
• massacring
• snuffing
• making away with
• butchering
• cutting down
• whacking
• executing
• smiting
• mowing
• terminating
• getting
• offing
• taking out
• killing off
• putting away
• rubbing out
• blotting out
• knocking off
• icing
• bumping off
• scragging
• martyring
• euthanizing
• putting down
• suiciding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• animating
• raising
• reviving
• resurrecting
• nurturing
• resuscitating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of destroying

The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular ocean views. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

At that tipping point, the only solution is for oil prices to surge, destroying enough demand for oil that the market can return to equilibrium. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

Kuwait said on Saturday that Iranian forces launched a wave of drones within its airspace, with its military destroying multiple aircraft after Iran targeted critical infrastructure in the country's north. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Wildfires burning in the Spokane, Washington, region continued burning Sunday, destroying more than 600 structures and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

In the very weeks the heat was destroying Europe's harvest, the European Commission proposed slowing the EU's carbon market. — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Spider-Man teams up with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to take down the green giant and stop the him from destroying the Damage Control skyscraper entirely. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026

An official for Green Diamond Resources similarly said her company has no intention of destroying the bird’s habitat. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat. — The Spruce, 21 July 2026