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View synonyms for

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: , , , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to put an end to; extinguish.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  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

/ ɪˈٰɔɪ /

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
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٰDzⲹ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٰDza· adjective
  • 󲹱-·ٰDz adjective
  • d·ٰDz verb (used with object)
  • -·ٰDz adjective
  • -·ٰDziԲ adjective
  • ܲd·ٰDz adjective
  • ɱ-·ٰDz adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of destroy1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, from Vulgar Latin ŧٰū (unattested), for Latin ŧٰܱ ( ŧ- de- + struere “to pick up, build”)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of destroy1

C13: from Old French destruire, from Latin ŧٰܱ to pull down, from de- + struere to pile up, build
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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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Barcelona didn't just beat them – they destroyed them.

From

John Moe The posted his prediction on 9 April, just two weeks after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake killed 3,500 people and destroyed centuries-old temples in the South East Asian nation.

From

When he was up for the nomination, Democrats and many in the media went all-in in an attempt to destroy Hegseth.

From

"We do not need any more lives to be destroyed by this."

From

Nobody is telling this deeply damaged, destroyed human being the truth about anything that could bring him down.

From

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