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
Her home suffered roof damage, but destruction just down the street shows how close more severe danger was.
—
Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Protesters shared concerns about the destruction of existing woods and the killing of trees in the process of allowing heavy machinery access to streambeds.
—Sofia Montoya-Deck, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
Those named in the indictment charged with conspiracy to transmit a threat or destruction of property to prevent seizure face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
—James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Trump officials have cited the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program as a key objective of the conflict.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Protesters shared concerns about the destruction of existing woods and the killing of trees in the process of allowing heavy machinery access to streambeds.
—Sofia Montoya-Deck, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
Those named in the indictment charged with conspiracy to transmit a threat or destruction of property to prevent seizure face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
—James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Trump officials have cited the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program as a key objective of the conflict.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destruction
Noun
-
Williams views Leap Life—named after his leap-year birthday—as an attempt to commune with the dead, particularly in light of the ongoing devastation in Palestine, Sudan, Haiti, Congo, and Yemen.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
17 June 2026
-
Hanuse uses footage of the smallpox survivors in the film that is over 100 years old, underscoring the devastation but also their strength.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The second episode… [is about] the fall of the group, precipitating [John Pearson’s] leaving, the downfall.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
-
That commodification of wildlife would lead to the downfall of nearly every large mammal in North America.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
El Niño can also wreak havoc on the many marine ecosystems that support the world’s fishing industries, including coral reefs and seagrass meadows.—
Dillon Amaya,
The Conversation,
12 June 2026
-
From stunting and weakening plant growth to delaying flower production, these 1/10th-inch-long pests can wreak havoc.—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The only thing that would satisfy the gremlin in me is the ruination of my freedom.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Research also suggests that recycling construction and demolition waste could meet half of China’s aggregate demand by 2050.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
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The measure would suspend Historic Preservation Board review across the Downtown Historic District for three years, routing decisions — including demolitions — around the board entirely.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
It was first adopted in 2017 with a goal of reaching zero traffic deaths by 2027.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
In an effort to conceal the causes of death, Sit impersonated the owners and had the dogs cremated, according to prosecutors.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The Tapanuli orangutan struggle to withstand even small increases in death rates and annual losses of more than 1% a year likely put the species on a path toward extinction, Meijaard said.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
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That would come as a surprise to variola major, the virus that caused smallpox, driven to extinction by a vaccine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Similarly, the defensively bewildering 9-6 loss the Wild suffered to start Round 2 in Colorado set the tone for five games that would ultimately be their undoing.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
3 June 2026
-
Harvard-Westlake’s final undoing came in the fifth inning with the game tied 1-1.—
gqlshare,
Daily News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destruction. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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