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
Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Teddy is a conspiracy theorist who believes Michelle is an alien hellbent on destroying Earth.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Now, Alesta is determined to destroy the beast that took her friend from her by traveling to Hell.
—Brittany Johnson, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Overdevelopment destroying our communities.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Teddy is a conspiracy theorist who believes Michelle is an alien hellbent on destroying Earth.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Now, Alesta is determined to destroy the beast that took her friend from her by traveling to Hell.
—Brittany Johnson, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Overdevelopment destroying our communities.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 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 6 Nov. 2025.
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