destruct

American  

[dih-struhkt] / dɪˈstrʌkt /

adjective

1. serving or designed to destroy.

   a destruct mechanism on a missile.

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noun

1. the act or process of intentional destruction.

   One out of ten launchings ended in destructs.

verb (used with object)

1. to destroy.

verb (used without object)

1. to be destroyed.

destruct British  

/ dɪˈstrʌkt /

verb

1. to destroy (one's own missile or rocket) for safety

2. (intr) (of a missile or rocket) to be destroyed, for safety, by those controlling it; self-destruct

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noun

1. the act of destructing

adjective

1. designed to be capable of destroying itself or the object, system, or installation containing it

   destruct mechanism

Etymology

Origin of destruct

First recorded in 1630–40; back formation from destruction

Example Sentences

By combining their results, researchers can better study neutrinos and their antimatter counterparts, offering insight into why the universe did not self destruct immediately after the Big Bang.

From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026

Lincoln Riley needs a laminated, and larger, play card that doesn’t self destruct, along with his team, in bad weather.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025

No doubt Arteta will self destruct at some point this season.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2024

“Because it is not possible to put the rocket into the planned orbit, we sent a destruct signal to the rocket,” minutes later at 10:51 a.m.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2023

On the other hand, if no one finds out before V-Day, all the PC's in the country, or Jesus, even the world, self destruct at once.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn