1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravages
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 kills
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 destroys
One such affliction is Tay-Sachs, a disease that disproportionately affects people of Ashkenazi descent and destroys brain and spinal nerve cells.
—
New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2025
The movie follows a similar arc, with an additional subplot in which the creature destroys the city while under the influence of a powerful demon.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Once in place, the device releases liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures as low as –170°C to form an ice ball that destroys the tumor cells.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
These newly aware companies’ high-speed trading of financial projects destroys the Earth itself, forcing humans to flee to the margins of the solar system.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 29 Sep. 2025
Most of the time, a person’s immune system identifies and destroys these cells.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2025
The movie follows a similar arc, with an additional subplot in which the creature destroys the city while under the influence of a powerful demon.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Once in place, the device releases liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures as low as –170°C to form an ice ball that destroys the tumor cells.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
These newly aware companies’ high-speed trading of financial projects destroys the Earth itself, forcing humans to flee to the margins of the solar system.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 29 Sep. 2025
Most of the time, a person’s immune system identifies and destroys these cells.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroys
Verb
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, as a geostorm ravages Earth, Athena and Hen’s space mission teeters on the edge.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
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As extreme heat ravages New York City this summer, the lives of thousands detained on Rikers Island hang in the balance.—
Darren Mack,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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During a final confrontation, all of this comes to light, Josephine accidentally shoots and kills Irvine family friend Colin (Jay Ellis), and Peter not-so-accidentally shoots and kills Josephine.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lately though, claims about the practice have grown, with viral videos and content creators claiming that exposing your blankets to freezing temperatures kills bacteria, banishes allergens, and more.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
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The novel is about three teenagers experiencing the joy and angst of their senior year in a New York City high school as the AIDS crisis devastates their community.—
Abdi Nazemian,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But maybe audiences will at least reach for their remotes and go to streaming for the killer doll that slays in more ways than one.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
27 Sep. 2025
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That means, the two are booked and busy serving gothic style slays all day — with one exception.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dousing enemies covered in mud with water shatters their defenses faster than basic attacks, while fire melts ice enemies without issue.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
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The latest expression that shatters the 140-proof mark comes from Louisville blender Barrell Craft Spirits, and this is one blend of whiskeys finished in Caribbean rum barrels that should be on any whiskey masochist’s bottle list.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What would be the point in merely listening to people look at legendary mountain views and Incan ruins?—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
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There are heated confrontations and a slap, and Alma ruins her shot at tenure after stealing a colleague's prescription pad to get more pain meds.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But even when Carr smashes a model boat to smithereens after a professional rejection or Allura imagines herself going full Lemonade on Chase’s sidepiece, their actions feel divorced from any larger context.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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But even when Carr smashes a model boat to smithereens after a professional rejection or Allura imagines herself going full Lemonade on Chase’s sidepiece, their actions feel divorced from any larger context.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroys. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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