DESTROY Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

destroy

verb

di-ˈstrȯi

Definition of destroy

as in to ruin

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to ravage

to bring destruction to (something) through violent action wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to kill

to deprive of life regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of destroy Less than a century ago, Europe was a continent destroyed by conflict. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 First, in 1960, a tsunami destroyed much of the town, killing several of the Kiyosakis’ classmates. — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 Removing dye, however, is only useful to recycling if the process does not destroy the cellulose along with it. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 In June 2022, a fire broke out at a children’s hospital in Lahore and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of medicine, local media reported. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for destroy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy

Verb

But if clouds ruin your view — or the moon is below the horizon at the time of the eclipse — there's no need to fret!

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
The news of the relationship almost ruined the church, which quickly began hemorrhaging members.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

In a world that’s been ravaged by a virus, with many living on the skids, survivors face roaming scavengers called Reapers.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
During the seven years that it was occupied by British forces, Manhattan had been ravaged by fires, picked over by looters, covered in fortifications, and swollen with refugees.

— Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of ravage

Verb

The portable machine uses pulses of full-spectrum ultraviolet light to kill infectious germs inside hospital rooms.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Clancy is a Massachusetts woman who has been on trial for killing her three children and attempting to take her own life in 2023.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of kill

Verb

Later demolished, the home sat directly across the street from a far more modern residence by a designer with ties to the Tao restaurant chain and the Venetian Las Vegas.

— Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2026
That then will allow the existing Willowcreek Middle School to be demolished.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

Rescue crews and foreign specialists are racing to find scores of workers feared trapped alive inside hydropower tunnels in Nepal, after thick mud buried the facilities during last week’s devastating flash floods.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Travelers hoping to visit the Grand Canyon in coming days may want to adjust their plans after devastating flash flooding that has left at least two people dead and more than a dozen others missing.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

For the same price, fans can purchase a Sean Taylor T-Shirt with the likeness of the former safety in his Redskins uniform before he was tragically slain in 2007.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Amber Gates, the mother of slain inmate Charles Gates, 27, alleges CoreCivic employees failed in their duty to keep prisoners safe.

— Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of slay

Verb

In addition, the original estimate that the Falcon 9 reusable boosters were only good for 10 flights has been shattered by the latest mission using a booster that had flown 37 times.

— David Szondy August 25, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
In 1985, the director Kevin Sullivan produced, with primary funding from the Canadian Broadcasting Company and support from PBS, a record-shattering Anne miniseries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of shatter

Verb

In addition, Moscow continued its efforts to wreck the Ukrainian power grid before the freezing winter months.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
But in a case of life imitating art, the show’s entire publicity strategy was inadvertently wrecked by a real-life aristocrat, after reports leaked that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was being eyed for a role in the series.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wreck

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de-stressing

destroy

destroyed

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“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of destroy

verb

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