destruction

noun

de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən 

1

: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin

scenes of death and destruction

the destruction of their careers

2

: the action or process of destroying something

the destruction of the building

3

: a destroying agency

Alcohol will be his destruction.

Synonyms of destruction

• devastation
• havoc
• demolition
• extinction
• loss
• extermination

Examples of destruction in a Sentence

War results in death and widespread destruction.

We are trying to save the building from destruction.

Recent Examples on the Web

The relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff has just as much passion as conflict, revenge, and destruction. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Cattle raisers, though, will breed more now that the price is so high and demand destruction will happen at the same time. —Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

And since nature readily produces glucose storage in the form of plants, there’s no need to engage in labor-exploitation and environmental destruction to mine and transport metals from the other side of the planet. —New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025

Crowds flocked to the park to view the volcanic activity, considered a sacred event in Hawaiian culture tied to the goddess of both creation and destruction, Pele. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English destruccioun, from Anglo-French destruction, from Latin destruction-, destructio, from destruere — see destroy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destruction

• seed/seeds of one's own destruction
• self-destruction
• weapon of mass destruction
• weapons of mass destruction

Rhymes for destruction

• abduction
• adduction
• conduction
• construction
• deduction
• eduction
• induction
• instruction
• obstruction
• production
• reduction
• seduction

Kids Definition

destruction

noun

de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən 

1

: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin

2

: the action or process of destroying something