Synonyms of destroys

destroys

verb

present tense third-person singular of destroy

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

• demolishes
• devastates
• shatters
• ruins
• smashes
• wrecks
• overcomes
• erodes
• wastes
• damages
• annihilates
• extinguishes
• decimates
• vaporizes
• cripples
• pulverizes
• kills
• dismantles
• ravages
• razes
• removes
• mars
• desolates
• crushes
• wracks
• breaks
• injures
• subdues
• defeats
• blasts
• nukes
• pulls down
• totals
• tears down
• rubs out
• does in
• disintegrates
• conquers
• creams
• impairs
• deteriorates
• harms
• dissolves
• spoils
• eradicates
• disfigures
• mutilates
• obliterates
• vitiates
• clobbers
• surmounts
• licks
• masters
• defaces
• undoes
• prevails (over)
• assassinates
• thrashes
• wins (against)
• trims
• vandalizes
• mangles
• trounces
• whips
• exterminates
• bests
• triumphs (over)
• routs
• slaughters
• sweeps (away)
• beats
• plunders
• unmakes
• slays
• dynamites
• blows up
• overbears
• wallops
• scours
• disassembles
• effaces
• expunges
• tramples
• wears (away)
• liquidates
• guts
• despoils
• extirpates
• murders
• trashes
• executes
• wipes out
• washes out
• loots
• zaps
• scotches
• overmatches
• stamps (out)
• takes down
• roots (out)
• pillages
• sacks
• blots out
• drubs
• cuts down
• snuffs (out)
• kills off
• dispatches
• mows (down)
• unbuilds
• takes out
• dilapidates
• fells
• massacres
• skunks
• havocs
• butchers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• builds
• creates
• raises
• constructs
• erects
• repairs
• produces
• sets up
• doctors
• makes
• rears
• fixes
• invents
• puts up
• manufactures
• establishes
• protects
• constitutes
• forms
• assembles
• shapes
• preserves
• organizes
• saves
• fathers
• mends
• institutes
• reconditions
• founds
• restores
• brings about
• frames
• conserves
• revamps
• fashions
• patches
• forges
• fabricates
• reconstructs
• molds
• rebuilds
• renovates
• remodels

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

• ravages
• devastates
• ruins
• plunders
• obliterates
• overwhelms
• shatters
• scourges
• eradicates
• annihilates
• vaporizes
• wrecks
• despoils
• extinguishes
• demolishes
• decimates
• desolates
• loots
• expunges
• smashes
• strips
• pillages
• wastes
• wipes out
• extirpates
• wracks
• sacks
• harries
• mows
• forays
• nukes
• razes
• overpowers
• totals
• overthrows
• marauds
• rubs out
• overruns
• crushes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restores
• recovers
• redeems
• repairs
• rehabilitates
• reconditions
• fixes
• mends
• revamps
• patches

3

as in kills

to deprive of life

regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kills
• slays
• takes
• claims
• dispatches
• murders
• carries off
• slaughters
• fells
• does for
• neutralizes
• does away with
• croaks
• assassinates
• annihilates
• does in
• makes away with
• decimates
• wastes
• snuffs
• finishes
• smites
• cuts down
• executes
• mows
• gets
• kills off
• takes out
• terminates
• whacks
• puts away
• rubs out
• offs
• butchers
• knocks off
• blots out
• massacres
• ices
• bumps off
• martyrs
• scrags
• euthanizes
• puts down
• suicides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• animates
• restores
• raises
• revives
• resurrects
• nurtures
• resuscitates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of destroys

The technology was developed and tested in close collaboration with a person living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that gradually destroys the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

The human contribution that remains is precisely the kind of thinking that fragmentation destroys. — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Because this process also destroys beneficial bacteria, live cultures are added after pasteurization to make frozen yogurt. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 July 2026

The series continues the story of Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who relocate from Montana to South Texas after a fire destroys their ranch. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

The most common type of dementia, which destroys memory and cognitive function, was responsible for 116,022 deaths in 2024, NCHS data shows. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Photothermolysis is a scientific term that explains how energy from lasers selects, heats, and destroys a target—which could include melanin. — Tayler Adigun, Allure, 2 July 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, 30 June 2026

University of Idaho students and faculty have already been involved in research using AI to improve worker safety and to understand more about ALS, a neurological disorder that destroys nerve cells. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2026