destroy
[ dih-stroi ]
/ dɪˈstrɔɪ /
verb (used with object)
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.
to put an end to; extinguish.
to kill; slay.
to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.
to defeat completely.
verb (used without object)
to engage in destruction.
Origin of destroy
1175–1225; Middle English
destroyen < Old French
destruire < Vulgar Latin
dēstrūgere (unattested), for Latin
dēstruere (
dē-
de- +
struere “to pick up, build”)
SYNONYMS FOR destroy
synonym study for destroy
1.
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.
usage note for destroy
See
decimate.
OTHER WORDS FROM destroy
Words nearby destroy
destitute,
destitution,
destock,
destool,
destrier,
destroy,
destroyer,
destroyer escort,
destroying angel,
destruct,
destructible
Example sentences from the Web for destroy
British Dictionary definitions for destroy
destroy
/ (dɪˈstrɔɪ) /
verb (mainly tr)
to ruin; spoil; render useless
to tear down or demolish; break up; raze
to put an end to; do away with; extinguish
to kill or annihilate
to crush, subdue, or defeat
(intr)
to be destructive or cause destruction
Derived forms of destroy
destroyable, adjectiveWord Origin for destroy
C13: from Old French
destruire, from Latin
dēstruere to pull down, from
de- +
struere to pile up, build