1
as in ruining
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravaging
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 killing
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroying
Overdevelopment destroying our communities.
—
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Unless this is another ploy by women who are intent on destroying each other.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The fires claimed 102 lives, displaced over 13,000 others and burned more than 3,000 homes, destroying centuries of cultural history and devastating the economy of an entire region, with losses estimated at nearly $13 billion.
—Josh Green, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Typically, too much gallium makes the material unstable, destroying its crystal structure and preventing superconductivity.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
While its 185 mph winds and torrential rains submerged western Jamaica, sending residents on rooftops and destroying farmland, in Haiti the storm triggered catastrophic floods.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Their larvae would tunnel in, feeding underneath the bark, destroying the circulatory systems of trees.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
This bizarre and, at times, quite disturbing horror/sci-fi/comedy hybrid is strange and singular in a way that's similar to Lanthimos' work, telling the story of a conspiracy theorist who's convinced that the CEO tied up in his basement is an alien intent on destroying the Earth.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … HISTORY HYPOCRITES – Hawley turns tables on reporter when asked if White House renovation is destroying history.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Unless this is another ploy by women who are intent on destroying each other.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The fires claimed 102 lives, displaced over 13,000 others and burned more than 3,000 homes, destroying centuries of cultural history and devastating the economy of an entire region, with losses estimated at nearly $13 billion.
—Josh Green, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Typically, too much gallium makes the material unstable, destroying its crystal structure and preventing superconductivity.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
While its 185 mph winds and torrential rains submerged western Jamaica, sending residents on rooftops and destroying farmland, in Haiti the storm triggered catastrophic floods.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Their larvae would tunnel in, feeding underneath the bark, destroying the circulatory systems of trees.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
This bizarre and, at times, quite disturbing horror/sci-fi/comedy hybrid is strange and singular in a way that's similar to Lanthimos' work, telling the story of a conspiracy theorist who's convinced that the CEO tied up in his basement is an alien intent on destroying the Earth.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … HISTORY HYPOCRITES – Hawley turns tables on reporter when asked if White House renovation is destroying history.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroying
Verb
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The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
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Clark reiterated his belief that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hurricane Melissa, currently ravaging the Caribbean, is a perfect example of why climate adaptation finance is so badly needed.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Sean Paul is doing his part to help minimize and repair the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, which is currently ravaging his homeland of Jamaica.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wuornos was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992 for killing Mallory and sentenced to death.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Three years later, Wuornos began the killing spree for which she would be remembered, murdering at least six men in Florida between 1989 and 1990.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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That history came to an end after wrecking crews tore down the wing’s two stories of offices and reception rooms last week.—
Darlene Superville,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That changed after Inter’s devastating 5–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final — the worst defeat in the competition’s history.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Sol Price had relinquished his official leadership role, and Robert’s fifteen-year-old son had recently died of cancer, devastating the family.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Reeves is currently on Broadway with his Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter, slaying in Waiting for Godot at the Hudson Theatre.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately, the serial killer known as John Doe is ritualistically slaying victims by turning the seven deadly sins into symbolic, atrocious murders.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The White House has required at least some of the construction workers tasked with demolishing the East Wing to sign nondisclosure agreements barring them from discussing their work, according to sources familiar with the project.—
Dr. Mark Abdelmalek,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
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Just last week, the Facchino Family began demolishing structures at its 13-acre property at 1655 Berryessa Road before construction commences on a new mixed-income neighborhood near the BART Station.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement The past few years have seen record-shattering global sea surface temperatures, which helps strengthen storms.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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Viewers are dropped into the aftermath of an unnamed personal conflict and must work out over the course of the runtime the stakes of the situation, a highwire act handled deftly by the actors whose tender performances provide the emotional impact of the film’s shattering final sequence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroying. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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