Destroy Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms destroy American [dih-stroi] / dɪˈstrɔɪ /

    verb (used with object)

    1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate.

      Synonyms: devastate, ravage, waste, level, smash Antonyms: create

    2. to put an end to; extinguish.

      Synonyms: uproot, annihilate, extirpate Antonyms: create

    3. to kill; slay.

    4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.

    5. to defeat completely.

    verb (used without object)

    1. to engage in destruction.

    destroy British / dɪˈstrɔɪ /

    verb

    1. to ruin; spoil; render useless

    2. to tear down or demolish; break up; raze

    3. to put an end to; do away with; extinguish

    4. to kill or annihilate

    5. to crush, subdue, or defeat

    6. (intr) to be destructive or cause destruction

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    Destroy, demolish, raze imply reducing a thing to uselessness. To destroy is to reduce something to nothingness or to take away its powers and functions so that restoration is impossible: Fire destroys a building. Disease destroys tissues. To demolish is to destroy something organized or structured: to demolish a machine. To raze is to level down to the ground: to raze a fortress.

    Other Word Forms

    • destroyable adjective
    • half-destroyed adjective
    • predestroy verb (used with object)
    • self-destroyed adjective
    • self-destroying adjective
    • undestroyed adjective
    • well-destroyed adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of destroy

    First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, from Vulgar Latin dēstrūgere (unattested), for Latin dēstruere ( dē- de- + struere “to pick up, build”)

    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.

    Ukrainian forces destroyed all rail links with Russia in the early days of the invasion to prevent Moscow from using the network to move military equipment.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    In the mountainous community of Lytle Creek in San Bernardino County, a bridge connecting parts of the town was seen during the storm covered with water and was possibly destroyed.

    From Los Angeles Times

    "We are worried that some malicious circles want to destroy the relations between two neighbouring countries," the minister added, without elaborating.

    From Barron's

    Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its air defences destroyed seven Ukrainian drones overnight.

    From BBC

    Driven by inner demons, he destroys all that he loves.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Related Words

    • consume
    • crush
    • damage
    • dismantle
    • end
    • eradicate
    • gut
    • impair
    • kill
    • maim
    • ravage
    • raze
    • ruin
    • sabotage
    • shatter
    • smash
    • smash-up
    • wipe out
    • wreck

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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