1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The fourth device was located at the marsh and destroyed by the Stamford bomb squad.
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Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025
Related article Tracking the damage and devastation from the Los Angeles wildfires in maps
As many as 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures may have been destroyed in the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County, rendering entire communities ashen piles of rubble.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
This year, however, will be a much more muted affair, as the Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed thousands of homes, killed 25 people and forced more than 150,000 residents to evacuate.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025
To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for destroy 
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025
Related article Tracking the damage and devastation from the Los Angeles wildfires in maps
As many as 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures may have been destroyed in the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County, rendering entire communities ashen piles of rubble.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
This year, however, will be a much more muted affair, as the Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed thousands of homes, killed 25 people and forced more than 150,000 residents to evacuate.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025
To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As victims of the devastating series of wildfires that ravaged multiple parts of Los Angeles navigate its aftermath, Hollywood stars are showing up for their community.Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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The Eaton Fire has ravaged over 14,000 acres in Altadena, California, with 27% containment.T. Michelle Murphy, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Those winds have fanned wildfires into destructive infernos across Los Angeles, killing at least 11 and displacing tens of thousands this week.Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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The medical examiner's office says five of those deaths were in the Palisades Fire, while 11 people were killed in the Eaton Fire.Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The plan is a major change for Jackson Memorial Hospital, which would demolish two office buildings across from a Metrorail station in 2027 to make way for affordable and workforce housing in two towers filled with shops, a hotel and more than 800 apartments.Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
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Developers purchased the Young family home for $5.8 million in February 2023, and recently demolished the 4 Burleigh Street property to build a $28.75 million residential site, consequence.net reported.Angel Saunders, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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What Happened in Hawaii? In August 2023, the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, on the northwest coast of the island of Maui, was devastated by a raging wildfire which killed 102 people and displaced thousands.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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Wildfires have devastated Southern California since early last week, leaving thousands of residents displaced, their homes reduced to ash and rubble.Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The projections came as a surprise after the Fed delivered a definitive half-point rate cut in September and messaging that suggested the post-pandemic inflation had been all but slayed.Tobias Burns, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
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Indianapolis crime 2024:Brothers slain six days apart among this year's unsolved killings Homicides, shootings and more: How violent was Indianapolis this year?Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With Houston shattering records at San Diego High School and Wiggins starring at La Jolla Country Day, the two made America’s Finest City the nation’s premier destination for women’s college basketball recruiters in 2004.Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
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An ugly ownership dispute spilled into public view this week, throwing the San Diego Padres into turmoil, shattering the quiet that defined their winter and raising questions about how the resulting uncertainty will affect the operation of the team.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For so long, the Steelers needed Watt to put on his cape and wreck a game to steal a win against a top-tier opponent.Mike DeFabo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Glasses, eyewear repair kits and gold cleaning equipment were wrecked.Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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