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
Quantum physics says information can never be destroyed, yet black holes seem to do exactly that.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Rototilling also destroys earthworms and the critical beneficial microbes that interact with plant roots to keep them healthy.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In an open letter last year, more than 200 former Civil Rights Division attorneys alleged Dhillon was destroying the Civil Rights Division, an office created by the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Ukraine downed 260 of 286 Russian drones, and Russian forces destroyed 85 Ukrainian drones over nine regions, officials said.
—Volodymyr Yurchuk, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Rototilling also destroys earthworms and the critical beneficial microbes that interact with plant roots to keep them healthy.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In an open letter last year, more than 200 former Civil Rights Division attorneys alleged Dhillon was destroying the Civil Rights Division, an office created by the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Ukraine downed 260 of 286 Russian drones, and Russian forces destroyed 85 Ukrainian drones over nine regions, officials said.
—Volodymyr Yurchuk, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
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