destroyed; destroying; destroys
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of
destroyed the files
also
: to ruin as if by tearing to shreds
their reputation was destroyed
a disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off illness
… destroyed any hope of a return to past crackdowns … —
George Brock
George Brock 2
a
: to put out of existence : kill
destroy an injured horse
b
: neutralize
the moon destroys the light of the stars
c
: annihilate, vanquish
… marines have been trained to close with and destroy the enemy. That's what we do.—Stephen W. Larose
Stephen W. Larose
: to cause ruin or destruction
It is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct …—T. S. Eliot
T. S. EliotExamples of destroy in a Sentence
Eventually our problems with money destroyed our marriage.
All the files were deliberately destroyed.
The disease destroys the body's ability to fight off illness.
The bomb blast destroyed the village.
The dog had to be destroyed since its owner could not prevent it from attacking people.
Recent Examples on the Web
Residents of states that have been impacted by this weekend's storms have posted photos online showing their homes destroyed by the tornadoes, with roofs fallen completely off, walls caved in and debris on lawns.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Taking on the role of a teenage boy named Chrono, players have to travel through time and assemble a team to stop a horrifying creature named Lavos from destroying the world.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Tornadoes pose a severe risk to life and property, with their powerful winds capable of destroying homes, overturning vehicles, and uprooting trees.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Nearly 300 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Oklahoma due to fire.
—Bruce Shipkowski, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Taking on the role of a teenage boy named Chrono, players have to travel through time and assemble a team to stop a horrifying creature named Lavos from destroying the world.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Tornadoes pose a severe risk to life and property, with their powerful winds capable of destroying homes, overturning vehicles, and uprooting trees.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Nearly 300 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Oklahoma due to fire.
—Bruce Shipkowski, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Articles Related to destroy
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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