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.

According to the researchers, this means that blocking riboflavin-related pathways could make tumors more vulnerable to ferroptosis and easier to destroy.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

AI models can’t agree on which jobs AI might destroy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

It will also create a new Defence Housing Service to improve the standard of accommodation for serving personnel and give the armed forces new powers to destroy drones threatening military sites.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

"We remain as steadfast as ever in our resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem," Modi said on Thursday, a year on since the launch of what India dubbed "Operation Sindoor".

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

If the Mountain could destroy the courage of one such as Strong Jonn, who feared nothing, what could it do to Rowan of the Bukshah, who feared everything?

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Vocabulary lists containing destroy

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Workshop 2, Part 1

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