to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used, to defeat someone completely, to cause someone to feel extremely upset or unhappy

go down in flames, tear to shreds, blow to smithereens

self-destruct, destroying angel, destroy the evidence

Formal and Informal Expressions of destroy

In different contexts, you can replace 'destroy' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'demolish, annihilate' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'wipe out, take down' is a commonplace synonym.

destroy: Explore its Definition & Usage

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

Synonyms for destroy

Antonyms for destroy

Idioms Using destroy

go down in flames
to fail spectacularly or disastrously
Example
The company's new product launch went down in flames when it was discovered to be defective.
tear to shreds
to criticize or attack someone or something harshly
Example
The movie was torn to shreds by critics for its poor acting and plot.
blow to smithereens
to completely destroy something, often with an explosion
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.
destroying angel
a deadly poisonous mushroom
Example
The destroying angel is responsible for many accidental poisonings.
destroy the evidence
to get rid of any proof or traces of something
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'

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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.