destroyed; destroying; destroys
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of
destroyed the files
also
: to ruin as if by tearing to shreds
their reputation was destroyed
a disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off illness
… destroyed any hope of a return to past crackdowns … —
George Brock
George Brock 2
a
: to put out of existence : kill
destroy an injured horse
b
: neutralize
the moon destroys the light of the stars
c
: annihilate, vanquish
… marines have been trained to close with and destroy the enemy. That's what we do.—Stephen W. Larose
Stephen W. Larose
: to cause ruin or destruction
It is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct …—T. S. Eliot
T. S. EliotExamples of destroy in a Sentence
Eventually our problems with money destroyed our marriage.
All the files were deliberately destroyed.
The disease destroys the body's ability to fight off illness.
The bomb blast destroyed the village.
The dog had to be destroyed since its owner could not prevent it from attacking people.
Recent Examples on the Web
To allow these courts to be destroyed to make pickleball courts is just wrong.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2025
Are the Fantastic Four escaping their universe after the planet-devouring villain Galactus destroys their world?
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 May 2025
How choice destroyed the milk industry But milk’s bursts in popularity have been conspicuously conditional, ebbing and flowing with the economy and government support.
—HubSpot, 2 May 2025
Mexican military destroys meth lab 00:28 A sign was nailed to a post at the entrance of the lab.
—Isobel Yeung, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2025
Are the Fantastic Four escaping their universe after the planet-devouring villain Galactus destroys their world?
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 May 2025
How choice destroyed the milk industry But milk’s bursts in popularity have been conspicuously conditional, ebbing and flowing with the economy and government support.
—HubSpot, 2 May 2025
Mexican military destroys meth lab 00:28 A sign was nailed to a post at the entrance of the lab.
—Isobel Yeung, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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