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
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
Jake and Vince have an unbreakable bond that destroys everyone and everything, but as Law points out, their issues are rooted in their early family life.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The result is a Type Ia supernova that usually completely destroys the greedy white dwarf star.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
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
Jake and Vince have an unbreakable bond that destroys everyone and everything, but as Law points out, their issues are rooted in their early family life.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The result is a Type Ia supernova that usually completely destroys the greedy white dwarf star.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 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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Williams' new movie Regretting You is based on author Colleen Hoover's 2019 novel; Williams and Mckenna Grace costar as mother-daughter duo Morgan and Clara, whose relationship is tested after a car accident kills both Clara's father (Scott Eastwood) and Morgan's sister Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald).—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Tim Robbins’s turn as a smarmy film executive who kills a screenwriter skewers the movie industry with a wink and a nod.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 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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Tessa Ia leads the series as Valeria Goldberg, a young woman in a Jewish-Mexican community who makes a mistake that shatters her world and forces her into a desperate fight to find her missing children.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
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In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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What to do in Split Split is a diverse blend of ancient and modern life, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafés and a bustling harbor.—
Chris Dong,
AFAR Media,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroys. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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