destruction

[ dih-struhk-shuh n ]
/ dɪˈstrʌk ʃən /
SEE 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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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

OTHER WORDS FROM destruction

non·de·struc·tion, nounpre·de·struc·tion, nounsem·i·de·struc·tion, noun

Words nearby destruction

destroyer, destroyer escort, destroying angel, destruct, destructible, destruction, destructionist, destructive, destructive competition, destructive distillation, destructive interference
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to destruction

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

Example sentences 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