destroy Definition
- 1to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used
- 2to defeat someone completely
- 3to cause someone to feel extremely upset or unhappy
Using destroy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "destroy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The hurricane destroyed the entire town.
Example
The fire destroyed the building.
Example
The company was destroyed by scandal.
Example
The team was destroyed by their opponents.
destroy Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using destroy
Example
The company's new product launch went down in flames when it was discovered to be defective.
Example
The movie was torn to shreds by critics for its poor acting and plot.
Example
The demolition crew blew the old building to smithereens.
Phrases with destroy
self-destruct
to cause one's own downfall or ruin
Example
His addiction caused him to self-destruct and lose everything.
a deadly poisonous mushroom
Example
The destroying angel is responsible for many accidental poisonings.
Example
He tried to destroy the evidence of his crime, but the police found it anyway.
Origins of destroy
from Old French 'destruire', from Latin 'destruere', meaning 'tear down'
Summary: destroy in Brief
To 'destroy' [dɪˈstrɔɪ] means to damage something beyond repair, defeat someone completely, or cause extreme emotional distress. Examples include natural disasters like hurricanes, scandals that ruin companies, and sports teams being soundly defeated. Idioms like 'go down in flames' and 'tear to shreds' emphasize the catastrophic nature of destruction.
