as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a lightning strike vaporized the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vaporize
Planetary scientists estimate that by about a billion years after the solar system’s birth, the gradually brightening sun would have been able to efficiently vaporize any liquid water on Venus.
—
Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
For example, McAllen, Texas could see close to 100,000 total annual in and out Las Vegas passengers vaporize if the current nonstop flights are ended.
—Michael Boyd, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The main aim of this mission, set to launch in 2026, is to find roughly Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars, the region where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface without vaporizing or freezing.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The idea being that when an atomic bomb lands in your city, you are vaporized instantly.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vaporize
Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
For example, McAllen, Texas could see close to 100,000 total annual in and out Las Vegas passengers vaporize if the current nonstop flights are ended.
—Michael Boyd, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The main aim of this mission, set to launch in 2026, is to find roughly Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars, the region where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface without vaporizing or freezing.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The idea being that when an atomic bomb lands in your city, you are vaporized instantly.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vaporize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vaporize
Verb
-
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a five-floor apartment building in the Solomyanskyi district was partially destroyed and caught fire.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Mexico built a hydroelectric dam, where these golden barrel cactuses live and in an instant their environment was destroyed and this species was almost wiped out.—
Eyder Peralta,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Of the 27 homes on their street in the Rollins neighborhood, 25 were either destroyed, demolished or suffered extensive damage that left them unlivable until they could be gutted and rebuilt, Heath said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
While the tower still exists and houses seniors, the cottages were demolished to make way for a mixed-income development.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The jerky in particular has ruined me for all other beef jerky—so be forewarned the same might happen to you.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Finally, impact strength assesses a material’s ability to absorb sudden shocks without shattering, highlighting that the hardness alone doesn’t always mean toughness.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Any sense of safety that once existed in the Qatari capital – a longtime haven for Hamas officials, with the tacit agreement of the US and Israel – has now been shattered.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her journey has brought her to Cloonboo, a town devastated by the Great Famine that ravaged the land between 1845 and 1852.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Related Stories Fans were devastated to hear that Cavill was not going to continue with the series.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
America will be watching Monday night’s early game, perhaps in much the same way traffic can’t help but slow to watch two cars that have just wrecked.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The crash marks the second time a vehicle wrecked into a dentist’s office in the Kansas City metro this week.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At least four people were killed and eight injured when a gunman in a pickup truck smashed through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service attended by hundreds, opened fire and set the building ablaze.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
During a two-point conversion play, Jennings caught the ball in the endzone, but was smashed between two Jaguars defenders.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vaporize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vaporize. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share