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.

What it can do is breathtaking, but what it can destroy is equally extraordinary.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Pope Leo has been a staunch critic of the war, calling Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilisation "unacceptable" and calling for him to find an "off-ramp" to end the conflict.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

In laboratory experiments, zeaxanthin enhanced these cells' ability to destroy melanoma, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma cells.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

Israel concentrated on using air strikes to close the exit tunnels for the missile launchers, but the bases themselves proved hard to destroy, Israeli officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

“I’ll destroy the evidence as soon as I’m done. I’ll eat the paper if I have to. But we have to get organized!”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing destroy

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Workshop 2, Part 1

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