What does "destroy" mean?
To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.
Destroy
/dɪˈstɹɔɪ/ verb, slang
verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.
- Grammar: destroy is listed as verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: demolish, ruin, break, obliterate.
- Useful contrasts: agricultural produce, architected tooling, basic design.
- Usage evidence: Denying she was an anarchist, Katja maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it.
How to use "destroy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "destroy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "destroy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "destroy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "destroy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "destroy" is acting as verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "demolish" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "destroy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist. ambitransitive
"The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes."
- 2 defeat soundly and humiliatingly wordnet
- 3 To neutralize, undo a property or condition. transitive
"Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate."
- 4 put (an animal) to death wordnet
- 5 To put down or euthanize. transitive
"Destroying a rabid dog is required by law."
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 destroy completely; damage irreparably wordnet
- 7 To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin. transitive
"Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year."
- 8 do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of wordnet
- 9 To utterly defeat; to crush. informal, transitive
"Remember when Germany destroyed Brazil 7–1 in the World Cup?"
- 10 To remove data. transitive
"The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists."
- 11 To exhaust completely and thus recreate or build up. slang, transitive
"This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders."
- 12 To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way. slang, transitive, vulgar
"She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet."
- 13 To sing a song extremely poorly. US, slang, transitive
"JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic!"
- 14 To eat food quickly, hungrily or completely. slang, transitive
"I could destroy some wings right now."
Antonyms
agricultural producearchitected toolingbasic designbasic life form
Example
"Denying she was an anarchist, Katja maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "destroy"?
Common synonyms include: demolish, ruin, break, obliterate, wreck, abolish.
How do you use "destroy" in a sentence?
Denying she was an anarchist, Katja maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it.
How do you pronounce "destroy"?
Pronounced /dɪˈstɹɔɪ/.
Etymology
From Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“I build”).