51Թ

Advertisement

View synonyms for

destroy

[ dih-stroi ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to put an end to; extinguish.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  3. to kill; slay.
  4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.
  5. to defeat completely.


verb (used without object)

  1. to engage in destruction.

destroy

/ ɪˈٰɔɪ /

verb

  1. to ruin; spoil; render useless
  2. to tear down or demolish; break up; raze
  3. to put an end to; do away with; extinguish
  4. to kill or annihilate
  5. to crush, subdue, or defeat
  6. intr to be destructive or cause destruction
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈٰDzⲹ, adjective
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·ٰDza· adjective
  • 󲹱-·ٰDz adjective
  • d·ٰDz verb (used with object)
  • -·ٰDz adjective
  • -·ٰDziԲ adjective
  • ܲd·ٰDz adjective
  • ɱ-·ٰDz adjective
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of destroy1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, from Vulgar Latin ŧٰū (unattested), for Latin ŧٰܱ ( ŧ- de- + struere “to pick up, build”)
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of destroy1

C13: from Old French destruire, from Latin ŧٰܱ to pull down, from de- + struere to pile up, build
Discover More

Synonym Study

Destroy, demolish, raze imply reducing a thing to uselessness. To destroy is to reduce something to nothingness or to take away its powers and functions so that restoration is impossible: Fire destroys a building. Disease destroys tissues. To demolish is to destroy something organized or structured: to demolish a machine. To raze is to level down to the ground: to raze a fortress.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Syria's foreign ministry said the bombardment virtually destroyed the Hama base.

From

Before fire destroyed Pacific Palisades, we were a family — my husband, my daughter and me.

From

When friends questioned the wisdom of planting a garden that may be destroyed to make way for real estate development, Horvitz brushed concerns aside.

From

Our scientific progress is the envy of the world, and they're destroying that.

From

I visited communities in southern Lebanon that were destroyed by Israel's attacks, and saw that support for Hezbollah appeared undimmed.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement