DESTROYS Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

destroys

verb

present tense third-person singular of destroy

as in demolishes

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

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as in ravages

to bring destruction to (something) through violent action wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state

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as in kills

to deprive of life regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of destroys The extreme heat kills the plant tissue immediately and typically destroys the roots of many weed species. —

Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026 Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life. —

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 After a catastrophic debris strike destroys their shuttle during a spacewalk, Sandra Bullock’s astronaut is left untethered, spinning silently against the vastness of space, while George Clooney’s veteran astronaut tries to guide her from a distance. —

Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us. —

Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 Though the role required sacrificing vanity, when Catherine's father (Ralph Richardson) destroys her chances to marry a gold-digger (Montgomery Clift), the double betrayal transforms the shy woman into an iron maiden. —

Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home. —

Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026 However, the harsh radiation inside such nebulae normally destroys fragile compounds, making the survival of volatile ice extremely unlikely. —

Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026 Brown destroys man coverage, threatens all three levels of the field and can rack up yards after the catch. —

Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroys

Verb

The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.

— Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Sep. 2025