1
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the violent storm resulted in the destruction of their tree house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
alcohol will be her destruction if we don't intervene to help her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destruction
Masterpiece Theater Matthew Fraser November 30, 2022 Climate activist attacks on works by van Gogh, Vermeer, and other art world titans are the latest in a tradition of destruction that hearkens to the early Christian zealots.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The timeline is based on the events before and after the Battle of Yavin, which led to the destruction of the Death Star in Episode IV: A New Hope, so each title is denoted as BBY or After the Battle of Yavin (ABY).
—Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Its more salient byproduct was the destruction of market forces, with the rise of noncompetitive firms; macroeconomic distortions in the form of inflation and debt; and the entrenchment of a chronically arbitrary state.
—Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The indifference to, and even celebration of, the destruction is what is most horrifying.
—Atul Gawande, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destruction
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The timeline is based on the events before and after the Battle of Yavin, which led to the destruction of the Death Star in Episode IV: A New Hope, so each title is denoted as BBY or After the Battle of Yavin (ABY).
—Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Its more salient byproduct was the destruction of market forces, with the rise of noncompetitive firms; macroeconomic distortions in the form of inflation and debt; and the entrenchment of a chronically arbitrary state.
—Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The indifference to, and even celebration of, the destruction is what is most horrifying.
—Atul Gawande, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destruction
Noun
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Ankara the Muslim Brotherhood government under Mohamed Morsi in Egypt before its downfall in 2014.—
Sinan Ciddi and Jonathan Schanzer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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New Bedford, for instance, transformed into an industrial powerhouse following the downfall of the city’s famed whaling industry in the 1860s.—
Made by History,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That doesn’t include further havoc caused during the upcoming rainy season.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Brady Tkachuk is considered an X-factor in this series because of his ability to create havoc in the corners and in front of the net.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The sense of ruination experienced by the organizers of those art spaces was something familiar to Quraiqi, who wrote on his Instagram this year that Israeli forces had destroyed his studio.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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Read: The mysterious, meteoric rise of Shein In the past several years, cultural awareness has grown about the reality of the fast-fashion business model, which relies on paying factory workers shockingly low wages and takes a multifaceted approach to furthering the ruination of the planet.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Related article Clashes erupt in western India as Hindu groups demand demolition of Mughal ruler’s tomb Modi’s BJP denies using the Mughal emperor’s name to defame India’s Muslims.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
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Long before its demolition, the city had fenced off part of the nearby sidewalk because debris had fallen off the tower and landed near people walking their dogs.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For Pope Francis, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the church camerlengo, or cardinal chamberlain (the official that manages the household of the pope), presided over the certification of death and the placement of the body in a coffin.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The news of his death began a nine-day period of mourning, known as Novendiale.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Long genetic and social isolation in Neanderthals before their extinction Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
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Once the end-Triassic extinction struck, no non-crocodylomorph pseudosuchians survived despite being so dominant.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Maybe the game’s biggest blessing and potential undoing is its open-source ethos, which allows anyone to access the code and sculpt endless fanmade mods.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
23 Apr. 2025
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This administration's undoing of Biden-era distractions and the refocusing of the Pentagon on lethality are moving at breakneck pace.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Under the budget plan, overall NASA funding would drop to about $20 billion, down from $24.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, a loss of about 20%.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Cunningham’s injuries, also extensive, were detailed in the lawsuit, including significant disfigurement, extensive surgical reconstruction and loss of mobility.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destruction. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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