destroy — English Dictionary

destroy
Pronunciations (2)
  • /dɪˈstɹɔɪ/
  • dɪˈstɹɔɪ

Verb

  1. To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.

    Usage
    • Transitive or intransitive
    Examples

    The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.

    Hooligans destroy unprovoked.

    More examples (4)

    Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Destroy this temple, and in three dayes I will raise it vp.

    Repeated use of this type of [water] on plants results in deflocculation[] of the soil. Good quality soil consists of loose aggregates which provide natural aeration and ease of root run. Sodium accumulation in soil destroys this natural flocculation and causes the soil to pack.

    Krav is a martial art of last resort that assumes no quarter and focuses purely on disarming, disabling and, if necessary, destroying your opponent.

    Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and frankly insulting. The antisemitic sentiment Musk endorsed had nothing to do with Israel; “replacement theory” is generally an unsupported allegation that Jews and other immigrants in the US and Europe are destroying Western civilization.

  2. To neutralize, undo a property or condition.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.

  3. To put down or euthanize.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.

  4. To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.

    Other girls in the foster home are eager to destroy her and get her kicked out of the place. It's a tough situation.

  5. To utterly defeat; to crush.

    Usage
    • Informal
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Remember when Germany destroyed Brazil 7–1 in the World Cup?

    More examples (1)

    Growing up, [Kevin] Durant told me, he was a sore loser. That all changed one day when he was 11, after he got destroyed by his father in a game of one on one in the driveway.

  6. To remove data.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.

  7. To exhaust completely and thus recreate or build up.

    Usage
    • Slang
    • Transitive
    Examples

    This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.

  8. To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.

    Usage
    • Slang
    • Transitive
    • Vulgar
    Examples

    She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.

  9. To sing a song extremely poorly.

    Usage
    • US usage
    • Slang
    • Transitive
    Examples

    JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic!

  10. To eat food quickly, hungrily or completely.

    Usage
    • Slang
    • Transitive
    Examples

    I could destroy some wings right now.

Verb

  1. do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    The fire destroyed the house

  2. destroy completely; damage irreparably

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!

    The tears ruined her make-up

  3. defeat soundly and humiliatingly

    Synonyms
    Examples

    The home team demolished the visitors

  4. put (an animal) to death

    Synonyms
    Examples

    The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid

    the sick cat had to be put down

Word forms
destroysdestroyingdestroyeddestroyed

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