1
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The Authority was created after StormWatch, a planetary defense force against aliens, was destroyed.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
Xcel and plaintiffs’ attorneys announced the settlement Wednesday, just one day before the start of jury selection in a two-month civil trial to determine blame for the 2021 wildfire that killed two people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, which led the probe, said the fraud did more than destroy a bank.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
Xcel and plaintiffs’ attorneys announced the settlement Wednesday, just one day before the start of jury selection in a two-month civil trial to determine blame for the 2021 wildfire that killed two people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, which led the probe, said the fraud did more than destroy a bank.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
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The jerky in particular has ruined me for all other beef jerky—so be forewarned the same might happen to you.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Her journey has brought her to Cloonboo, a town devastated by the Great Famine that ravaged the land between 1845 and 1852.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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The final day of the 2025 State Fair was canceled after flooding ravaged the area.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At least four people were killed and eight were injured after a gunman attacked a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Michigan on Sunday morning, police said.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
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Since finding out the gun that killed Dark Hearts member Warren Clarke (Joshua Dye) at the trap house robbery gone wrong once belonged to one of their own, Perry has been on a mission to figure out who inside the biker gang was feeding information to the thieves.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Of the 27 homes on their street in the Rollins neighborhood, 25 were either destroyed, demolished or suffered extensive damage that left them unlivable until they could be gutted and rebuilt, Heath said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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While the tower still exists and houses seniors, the cottages were demolished to make way for a mixed-income development.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Her journey has brought her to Cloonboo, a town devastated by the Great Famine that ravaged the land between 1845 and 1852.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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Related Stories Fans were devastated to hear that Cavill was not going to continue with the series.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The local station owner had previously demanded that Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and make a donation to the slain activist's organization, Turning Point USA.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
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Plus, here’s how your federal lawmakers voted on a resolution honoring the slain activist.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Finally, impact strength assesses a material’s ability to absorb sudden shocks without shattering, highlighting that the hardness alone doesn’t always mean toughness.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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Any sense of safety that once existed in the Qatari capital – a longtime haven for Hamas officials, with the tacit agreement of the US and Israel – has now been shattered.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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America will be watching Monday night’s early game, perhaps in much the same way traffic can’t help but slow to watch two cars that have just wrecked.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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The crash marks the second time a vehicle wrecked into a dentist’s office in the Kansas City metro this week.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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