1
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The other Israelites are appalled by this heinous action and go to war against the Benjaminites, who are nearly destroyed before an eventual reconciliation (Judges 20–21).
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 July 2026
Her house and surrounding homes quickly caught on fire and were almost immediately destroyed by the significant blast.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
That’s when the Bavarians scooped a sextuple containing the 2019/2020 Champions League crown, memorably destroying Quique Setien’s Barça 8-2 in the quarterfinal.
—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Photothermolysis is a scientific term that explains how energy from lasers selects, heats, and destroys a target—which could include melanin.
—
Tayler Adigun,
Allure,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 July 2026
Her house and surrounding homes quickly caught on fire and were almost immediately destroyed by the significant blast.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
That’s when the Bavarians scooped a sextuple containing the 2019/2020 Champions League crown, memorably destroying Quique Setien’s Barça 8-2 in the quarterfinal.
—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Photothermolysis is a scientific term that explains how energy from lasers selects, heats, and destroys a target—which could include melanin.
—
Tayler Adigun,
Allure,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
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After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
Verb
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Shana McDiarmid and her now-boyfriend, Cameron, are another couple who benefitted from the foundation after their rental property was ravaged thanks to its proximity to the river.
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Were civic centers nothing more than Trojan horses designed to ravage humanities departments across the nation?
Verb
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The mother of a man killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike in Manhattan is demanding justice for her son.
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The one-two punch wreaked massive destruction throughout the region, killing at least 235 and wounding more than 4,300.
Verb
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The East Wing of the White House was demolished suddenly in October 2025, and construction at the site, which will be the location of a new 22,000-square-foot ballroom, has continued through mid-2026.
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Just months later, in October, the East Wing had been demolished without notice to make way for the new ballroom.
Verb
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The project has sparked outrage because of the location’s pristine nature and unique habitat that would be irreversibly devastated, according to environmentalists.
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BangkokReuters — The family of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was found in a suitcase in Pattaya said they were devastated by her death, for which an Australian man has been arrested and charged with murder.
Verb
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Some mourners, gathering at the funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Saturday, expressed both anguish and a desire for vengeance.
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Tipu himself was found slain near a passageway once used to bring water into the fort; it’s dubbed the Water Gate.
Verb
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Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
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Republican Rick Jackson shattered spending records in Georgia by spending $108 million of his own money into his campaign for governor.
Verb
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The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray.
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In the history of mankind, socialist success stories are as rare as triple plays in baseball, but plenty of countries have been wrecked by it — Venezuela and Cuba, to name just two.
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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