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.

How can doctors destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue?

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

There are many narratives going around, and the one I find most interesting or conflicting is from the tech bears who say that AI is so powerful, it’s going to destroy all of software.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

“You won’t want to spend hundreds of millions on building a data center that you can destroy by dropping a $7,000 drone on it,” said Justin Alexander, an economist who specializes in the Gulf region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

It’s a grim reminder of L.A’.s insatiable appetite to destroy its own heritage and especially devastating to a certain milieu of writers and artists, myself very much included.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Ask the World Spirit to destroy the bear?

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

destroy

Example Sentences

Related Words