destroy

[dih-stroi] / dɪˈstrɔɪ /

VERB

demolish, devastate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consume crush damage dismantle end eradicate gut impair kill maim ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter smash smash-up wipe out wreck

STRONG

abort annihilate annul axe butcher cream deface desolate despoil dispatch erase exterminate extinguish extirpate level liquidate mar maraud mutilate nuke nullify overturn quash quell ravish slay suppress torpedo total trash vaporize waste wax zap

WEAK

blot out break down lay waste snuff out spoliate stamp out swallow up tear down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist bear begin build construct create fix give birth help lose mend repair start

STRONG

improve keep preserve retain save validate

WEAK

restore

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Clean-energy stocks are performing well, but they can still destroy capital if investors buy the wrong company at the wrong price.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

AI will reorganize the white-collar corporate workforce, not destroy it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Acting like a giant incinerator, the spinning flames destroy many of the particles responsible for dense smoke plumes.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

Now scheduled for further surgery, which aims to cut out or destroy the endometriosis tissue, she told me: "The main thing I want is just a relief of pain. It's like getting my life back."

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

The Joint Chiefs were all there, finalizing plans to destroy the Soviet missiles in Cuba.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Vocabulary lists containing destroy

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Workshop 2, Part 1

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