destroyer
noun
de·stroy·er
di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r 
dē-
1
: one that destroys
2
: a small fast warship used especially to support larger vessels and usually armed with guns, depth charges, torpedoes, and often guided missiles
Examples of destroyer in a Sentence
The pamphlet describes alcohol as a destroyer of families.
Recent Examples on the Web
During the test, the destroyer USS Pinckney fired a simulated Standard Missile-6 upgraded missile at a medium-range ballistic missile target, which was equipped with a hypersonic target vehicle for testing and defeating hypersonic threats, according to the press release.
—
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Sailors on the destroyer USS Carney were awarded combat medals after shooting down 14 Houthi drones that attacked them at sea in December 2023.
—The Editors, National Review, 26 Mar. 2025
This Week China's Rivals Flex Aircraft Carrier Muscles US Ally Fixes US Navy Ship in Strategic Milestone
Trump Warns North Korea With Allied Carrier Drill
The Nimitz is deployed with destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Gridley, USS Wayne E. Meyer, and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The deployment came one week after the U.S. Northern Command ordered the destroyer USS Gravely, which is based in Norfolk, Va., to travel to the Gulf of Mexico for the same reason.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
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Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Sailors on the destroyer USS Carney were awarded combat medals after shooting down 14 Houthi drones that attacked them at sea in December 2023.
—The Editors, National Review, 26 Mar. 2025
This Week China's Rivals Flex Aircraft Carrier Muscles US Ally Fixes US Navy Ship in Strategic Milestone
Trump Warns North Korea With Allied Carrier Drill
The Nimitz is deployed with destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Gridley, USS Wayne E. Meyer, and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The deployment came one week after the U.S. Northern Command ordered the destroyer USS Gravely, which is based in Norfolk, Va., to travel to the Gulf of Mexico for the same reason.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
Cite this Entry
“Destroyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroyer. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
destroyer
noun
de·stroy·er
di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r
1
: one that destroys
2
: a small fast warship armed with guns, depth charges, torpedoes, and often guided missiles
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