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
Schuster said while changes would be needed to US law to enable the South Korean shipyard to begin fully constructing destroyers for the US Navy, the pact signed Monday could yield immediate benefits.
—
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
The carrier strike group led by the Carl Vinson consists of at least two other warships, the cruiser USS Princeton and the destroyer USS Sterett, and a carrier air wing with nine aircraft squadrons, according to a statement released by the U.S. Navy on March 28.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Pinprick attacks, months between them, our destroyers being fired upon dozens of times.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
The carrier strike group led by the Carl Vinson consists of at least two other warships, the cruiser USS Princeton and the destroyer USS Sterett, and a carrier air wing with nine aircraft squadrons, according to a statement released by the U.S. Navy on March 28.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Pinprick attacks, months between them, our destroyers being fired upon dozens of times.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
Cite this Entry
“Destroyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroyer. Accessed 15 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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