destroy

[dih-stroi]

verb (used with object)

1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate.

   Synonyms: devastate, ravage, waste, level, smash
   Antonyms: create

2. to put an end to; extinguish.

   Synonyms: uproot, annihilate, extirpate
   Antonyms: create

3. to kill; slay.

4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.

5. to defeat completely.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in destruction.

destroy

/ dɪˈstrɔɪ /

verb

1. to ruin; spoil; render useless

2. to tear down or demolish; break up; raze

3. to put an end to; do away with; extinguish

4. to kill or annihilate

5. to crush, subdue, or defeat

6. (intr) to be destructive or cause destruction

Other Word Forms

• destroyable adjective
• half-destroyed adjective
• predestroy verb (used with object)
• self-destroyed adjective
• self-destroying adjective
• undestroyed adjective
• well-destroyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of destroy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, from Vulgar Latin dēstrūgere (unattested), for Latin dēstruere ( dē- de- + struere “to pick up, build”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of destroy¹

C13: from Old French destruire, from Latin dēstruere to pull down, from _de- + struere to pile up, build

Synonym Study

Destroy, demolish, raze imply reducing a thing to uselessness. To destroy is to reduce something to nothingness or to take away its powers and functions so that restoration is impossible: Fire destroys a building. Disease destroys tissues. To demolish is to destroy something organized or structured: to demolish a machine. To raze is to level down to the ground: to raze a fortress.

Example Sentences

Today, Dr. Frankenstein’s descendants keep promising that AI won’t destroy civilization while ignoring Shelley’s point, that the inventor is more dangerous than his monster.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, a number of EU states have already backed plans for a multi-layered "drone wall" to quickly detect, then track and destroy Russian drones.

Read more on BBC

In April, the kibbutz opened a new neighbourhood of 16 housing units earmarked for younger people, to replace the old youth quarter destroyed in the attack.

Read more on Barron's

“You have less stress. Stress destroys your nervous system and makes you sick.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The last earthquake of that magnitude struck Northern California in 1906, destroying much of San Francisco.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consume 
• crush 
• damage 
• dismantle 
• end 
• eradicate 
• gut 
• impair 
• kill 
• maim 
• ravage 
• raze 
• ruin 
• sabotage 
• shatter 
• smash 
• smash-up 
• wipe out 
• wreck