destroys

VERB

demolish, devastate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consume crush damage dismantle end eradicate gut impair kill maim ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter smash 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.

See Examples For:

destroys

"Many people hold onto the American dream, but given how tough things are getting, you can't be the salmon swimming against the current -- because you get tired, you burn out, it destroys you."

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

Necrotising fasciitis, external is a rare but severe bacterial infection that destroys tissue beneath the skin.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

And then there’s Javert—an armed agent of the state whose monomaniacal focus on bringing Valjean to “justice” ultimately destroys his life.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

"Food ultra-processing often destroys the natural structure of food and introduces potentially harmful substances like artificial additives or processing chemicals," Dr. Cardoso said.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

Babulya had quoted part of the Talmud to Anya on Shabbat: “Whoever destroys a single life has destroyed the entire world.”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack