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

The destroyer was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

With Musk about to become a key advisor to Donald Trump’s White House and meddling in European politics, many now see the X and Tesla owner as someone who embodies either the destroyer or the savior of the Western world. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025

Russia is cast as the anti-environmental destroyer, hell-bent on rapacious domination both of Ukraine and of the natural world. —David Vetter, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

America and the world need Trump to be a disrupter and reformer, not merely a destroyer. —Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destroyer

• destroyer escort
• self-destroyer
• tank destroyer

Kids 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