destroyed; destroying; destroys
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of : damage beyond repair
destroyed the files
Their reputation was destroyed.
A disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off illness.
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
d
informal
: to defeat soundly
destroyed the other team 10-1
: 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
At least 12 structures have been destroyed, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
The death of a star is usually thought to be a violent and hostile place, filled with scorching radiation that destroys fragile molecules.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
An even worse scenario could unfold if desalination plants are destroyed, Sacks warned.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
At least 12 structures have been destroyed, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
The death of a star is usually thought to be a violent and hostile place, filled with scorching radiation that destroys fragile molecules.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
An even worse scenario could unfold if desalination plants are destroyed, Sacks warned.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
At least 12 structures have been destroyed, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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