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
Many of the changes that capitalism brings, including the destruction of old industries and the rise of mass migration, are profoundly unwelcome to the Jacksonian spirit.
—
Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility, but a Dutch court found two Russians and a separatist Ukrainian guilty of mass murder for their involvement in MH17’s destruction.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The result of this has made way for innovative thinkers (who perhaps intuitively understand Schumpeter’s idea of creative destruction) to make hay.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Fern’s path of destruction is expected to be devastating, particularly in Texas and the South, where dangerous amounts of ice are likely to cut power for millions and destroy property.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility, but a Dutch court found two Russians and a separatist Ukrainian guilty of mass murder for their involvement in MH17’s destruction.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The result of this has made way for innovative thinkers (who perhaps intuitively understand Schumpeter’s idea of creative destruction) to make hay.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Fern’s path of destruction is expected to be devastating, particularly in Texas and the South, where dangerous amounts of ice are likely to cut power for millions and destroy property.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destruction
Noun
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The sheer human devastation witnessed by the half-dozen people pretending to eat their lunch in here could nullify any legitimate emotional experience within twenty city blocks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The frigid weekend left behind a path of devastation, with New York City officials reporting eight deaths stemming from the cold temperatures that resulted in 8 to 15 inches of snow in some neighborhoods, according to FOX 8.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Presidential downfall Legislators swiftly overturned the president’s martial law decree after fighting their way past armed soldiers into parliament.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In early January, an anonymous Polymarket trader made $400,000 betting on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s downfall, raising concerns about insider trading.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The weather was already causing havoc in the air — with about 1,000 flight disruptions at CLT airport — and on the ground, with State Highway Patrol handling over 175 wrecks so far.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
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In any case, the Chiefs’ self-evaluation this offseason is sure to focus on how the team can create more havoc — while also getting back to the production of past seasons when creating big plays was more the norm.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And to think that many thought MLB Free Agency in 1976 was the ruination of the sport.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
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Advertisement What’s perhaps most critical around the plague is its embodiment of feelings of destruction and ruination.—
Nathan Smith,
Time,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The bronze doors and concrete walls with remarkably few windows looked ancient, and the building more closely resembled a student dormitory awaiting demolition than an institution where precious cultural assets from around the world were collected and stored.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The mansion’s fate became almost certain when the property owner, the family living next door, requested a demolition permit from the city of Miami Beach.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The preliminary cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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He was condemned for the April 1998 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Glenda Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, at the woman's suburban Houston apartment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Conservationists argue delisting the species would almost certainly lead to its extinction.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Warming temperatures are forcing Antarctic penguins to breed earlier and that’s a big problem for two of the cute tuxedoed species that face extinction by the end of the century, a study said.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And there's constant like, undoing of images.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
21 Jan. 2026
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McDermott’s failure to reach the Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback became his undoing.—
John Wawrow,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destruction. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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