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

However, once metal interconnects are already present in a completed circuit layer, such temperatures would destroy them.

From Science Daily • May 30, 2026

He also insisted Iran allows the US to remove and destroy its enriched uranium.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

"It's against my rules. However, since you didn't have a chance to read it to yourself, I will read it aloud for you before I destroy it."

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

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