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
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
: to cause ruin or destruction
It is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct …—T. S. Eliot
Synonyms
Examples 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
Double talk takes many forms, all of which damage or destroy trust:
Spin: Every organization and, to an extent, every individual engages in public relations.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
One standout: the Healthy Beauty Award–winning Braun Skin i-expert IPL, a laser hair removal tool that uses light to heat and destroy hair follicles at the root.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 2 Dec. 2024
Healthcare providers insert a probe into the affected vein, emitting laser beams that produce heat to destroy the veins.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
The town was destroyed and its inhabitants were either killed or fled to Mexico.
—Christopher Cann, The Arizona Republic, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for destroy 
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Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
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