destruct

[ dih-struhkt ]

/ dɪˈstrʌkt /

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adjective

serving or designed to destroy: a destruct mechanism on a missile.

noun

the act or process of intentional destruction: One out of ten launchings ended in destructs.

verb (used with object)

to destroy.

verb (used without object)

to be destroyed.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of destruct

First recorded in 1630–40; back formation from destruction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use destruct in a sentence

Privacy-wise, you can set your messages to self-destruct at any time from 5 seconds after they’re read to a week after you send them.
6 secure alternatives to WhatsApp|Sandra Gutierrez G.|January 18, 2021|Popular-Science
Some of this is “self-destruct” sunshine that bubbles up warmer air from the surface but then condenses into clouds when encountering colder air aloft.
D.C.-area forecast: Showers by late afternoon or evening, then perhaps some snow showers Saturday|A. Camden Walker|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
Like a Mission Impossible message that self-destructs once it has been played, many RNAs are quickly degraded once read.
Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold|Tina Hesman Saey|November 20, 2020|Science News
Cells infected with a virus will often set off this self-destruct mechanism.
How two immune system chemicals may trigger COVID-19’s deadly cytokine storms|Tina Hesman Saey|October 30, 2020|Science News

“This world is destructing,” he said, looking out of the window.
Fiction: Quiet earth philosophy|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
“I kind of self-destructed,” Federer said after losing to Robredo in the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
Roger Federer’s U.S. Open Defeat Was Bad, but He’s Not Dead Yet|Sujay Kumar|September 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Perry self-destructed, Cain dodged bullets, and Romney came out on top (again).
Paul Begala: GOP Candidates Show Willful Blindness About Country’s Mood|Paul Begala|November 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
We may have a new moment in which a Virginia Republican self-destructed.
Virginia Republicans Haven't Learned|Paul Begala|October 29, 2008|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for destruct

destruct

/ (dɪˈstrʌkt) /

verb

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

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

noun

the act of destructing

adjective

designed to be capable of destroying itself or the object, system, or installation containing itdestruct mechanism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

destruct

Origin of destruct

Words related to destruct

How to use destruct in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for destruct