82 Synonyms & Antonyms For DESTROY

Synonyms & Antonyms

Examples

Related Words

Definitions destroy [dih-stroi] / dɪˈstrɔɪ / VERB demolish, devastate Synonyms STRONGEST consume crush damage dismantle end eradicate gut impair kill maim ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter smash smash-up wipe out wreck STRONG abort annihilate annul axe butcher cream deface desolate despoil dispatch erase exterminate extinguish extirpate level liquidate mar maraud mutilate nuke nullify overturn quash quell ravish slay suppress torpedo total trash vaporize waste wax zap WEAK blot out break down lay waste snuff out spoliate stamp out swallow up tear down Antonyms STRONGEST aid assist bear begin build construct create fix give birth help lose mend repair start STRONG improve keep preserve retain save validate WEAK restore

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In November, a federal judge raised concerns that agents mishandled or destroyed key physical evidence in the case.

From Los Angeles Times

The old observatory was destroyed in a "devastating fire" on 23 June 2021.

From BBC

In T1D, beta cells are destroyed because the immune system no longer recognizes them as part of the body.

From Science Daily

The devastating fires, which broke out Jan. 7, 2025, destroyed thousands of homes and claimed the lives of 31 people, according to official records.

From MarketWatch

The home was destroyed in an explosion in February 1980, a few months after the ayatollah's death.

From Barron's

Related Words

Words related to destroy are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word destroy. Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

abolish atomize ball up balling up batter blast bomb butcher butchered cancel cancelling corrode cripple dash deaden deface delete despair devitalize devour disband disbanded disbanding discredit dismantle dismantling disorganize dispatch dispose of dissolve efface end erode erodes excise exterminate exterminates extinguish finish impair mangle mess up messed up messing up murder nuke overwhelm overwhelm overwhelms overwhelms paralyze poison prostrate put away raze rout sabotage sabotages sack sap saps shatter shatter slaughter slay slayed smash-up spoil spoliate stamp out tamper undo vaporize wreak havoc wreck wrought havoc

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.