definitions

destruction

[ dih-struhk-shuh n ]
/ dɪˈstrʌk ʃən /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR destruction ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of destroying: wanton destruction of a town.
the condition of being destroyed; demolition; annihilation.
a cause or means of destroying.

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RELATED WORDS

loss, murder, eradication, ruin, massacre, slaughter, annihilation, extermination, elimination, extinction, carnage, ruination, undoing, liquidation, downfall, end, wrecking, havoc, subversion, overthrow

Nearby words

destroyer, destroyer escort, destroying angel, destruct, destructible, destruction, destructionist, destructive, destructive competition, destructive distillation, destructive interference

Origin of destruction

1275–1325; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin dēstructiōn- (stem of dēstructiō), equivalent to dēstruct(us) (past participle of dēstruere; see destroy) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsnon·de·struc·tion, nounpre·de·struc·tion, nounsem·i·de·struc·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for destruction

British Dictionary definitions for destruction

destruction

/ (dɪˈstrʌkʃən) /

noun

the act of destroying or state of being destroyed; demolition
a cause of ruin or means of destroying

Word Origin for destruction

C14: from Latin dēstructiō a pulling down; see destroy
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

Word Origin and History for destruction

destruction

n.

early 14c., from Old French destruction (12c.) and directly from Latin destructionem (nominative destructio) "a pulling down, destruction," from past participle stem of destruere "tear down" (see destroy).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper