Dictionary

destroy en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /dɪˈstɹɔɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“to build”).

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive) To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.
   • 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. 1972 November 5, Joan Lee Faust, “AROUND THE Garden”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Dec 2024:
   • 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. 2023 November 28, Jill Filipovic, “Opinion: Elon Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and insulting”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Dec 2023:
   • Hooligans destroy unprovoked.
   • Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Destroy this temple, and in three dayes I will raise it vp. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 2:19:
   • Krav is a martial art of last resort that assumes no quarter and focuses purely on disarming, disabling and, if necessary, destroying your opponent. 2013, Steven McLaughlin, Clubland UK: On the Door in the Rave Era:
   • The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
2. (transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
   • Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
3. (transitive) To put down or euthanize.
   • Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
4. (transitive) To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
   • Other girls in the foster home are eager to destroy her and get her kicked out of the place. It's a tough situation. 2005, Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide:
   • Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
5. (informal, transitive) To utterly defeat; to crush.
   • 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. 2012 November 11, Sam Anderson, “The Oklahoma City Thunder's Fairy-Tale Rise”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Apr 2023:
   • Remember when Germany destroyed Brazil 7–1 in the World Cup?
6. (transitive) To remove data.
   • The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
7. (slang, transitive) To exhaust completely and thus recreate or build up.
   • This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.
8. (slang, transitive, vulgar) To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
   • She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.
9. (US, slang, transitive) To sing a song extremely poorly.
   • JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic! 2001, Jeff Nathanson, Rush Hour 2, New Line Cinema:
10. (slang, transitive) To eat food quickly, hungrily or completely.
    • I could destroy some wings right now.

Forms

Antonyms

create · build · rebuild · construct · raise · repair · recover · produce · make

Deriveds

destroyal · destroyer · redestroy · destroying angel · destroyable · destroyingly · undestroy · Destroy Dick December · destroyed jeans · destroyer escort · downstroy · destroyability · undestroyed

Hyponyms

incinerate

Relateds

destruction · destruct · destructible · destructive

Synonyms

waste · disintegrate · extinguish · ruin · liquidate · remove · bewreck · obliterate · break · unexist · destroy · subvert · diffuse · blotto · unmake · extirpate · devastate · ruinate · atomize · decompose · harry · desolate · kill · eliminate · wipe off · total · wipe out · lay waste · fordo · ravage · nuke · ravel · dissolve · erase · raze · race · demolish · pulverize · annihilate · dash · benothing · fuck · uproot · overthrow · level · disperse · exterminate · unbreed · overturn · blot out · jazz · wreck · aerosolize · stamp out · pull down · eradicate

Translations (274)

sl uničiti (to damage beyond use or repair) · sh uništávati (to damage beyond use or repair) · frm gaster (to damage beyond use or repair) · akl guba' (to damage beyond use or repair) · pl zmiażdżyć ((informal) to utterly defeat) · mi kaiauru (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru сокруша́ть ((informal) to utterly defeat) · ja 潰す (to damage beyond use or repair) · cmn 中和 (to neutralize) · sv nödslakta (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · fi tuhota (to damage beyond use or repair) · mk уништува (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt destroçar (to damage beyond use or repair) · sh уништа́вати (to damage beyond use or repair) · vi phá hoại (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl vernielen (to damage beyond use or repair) · tr mahvetmek (to damage beyond use or repair) · sv ödelägga (to damage beyond use or repair) · de notschlachten (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · nl afmaken (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · de vernichten ((informal) to utterly defeat) · mn суйтгэх (to damage beyond use or repair) · ja 壊す (to damage beyond use or repair) · frm destruire (to damage beyond use or repair) · el αφανίζω (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · uk ни́щити (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt arrasar ((informal) to utterly defeat) · sv krossa ((informal) to utterly defeat) · mnc ᡝᡶᡠᠯᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ชนะอย่างสิ้นเชิง ((informal) to utterly defeat) · hu tönkretesz (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi anea (to damage beyond use or repair) · az dağıtmaq (to damage beyond use or repair) · alt јок эдер (to damage beyond use or repair) · haw luku (to damage beyond use or repair) · de vernichten (to damage beyond use or repair) · be зруйнава́ць (to damage beyond use or repair) · ja 破る (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt estraçalhar (to damage beyond use or repair) · km បន្សាប (to neutralize) · da ødelægge (to damage beyond use or repair) · sh ùništiti (to damage beyond use or repair) · sco cannoch (to damage beyond use or repair) · fi hävittää (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc ἀναιρέω (to damage beyond use or repair) · it distruggere (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi urupatu (to damage beyond use or repair) · de einschläfern (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · mi whakapakaru (to damage beyond use or repair) · de löschen ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · akk 𒄢 (to damage beyond use or repair) · frm mehaignier (to damage beyond use or repair) · sk zničiť (to damage beyond use or repair) · alt јоголтор (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt detonar (to damage beyond use or repair) · la dēleō (to damage beyond use or repair) · cmn 破壞 /破坏 (to damage beyond use or repair) · pl zrujnować (to damage beyond use or repair) · alt јемирер (to damage beyond use or repair) · uk руйнува́ти (to damage beyond use or repair) · fur distrugi (to damage beyond use or repair) · tl sirain (to damage beyond use or repair) · cmn 毀壞 /毁坏 (to damage beyond use or repair) · gd dì-làraich (to damage beyond use or repair) · la aboleō (to damage beyond use or repair) · ceb guba (to damage beyond use or repair) · hu elpusztít (to damage beyond use or repair) · de zerstören (to damage beyond use or repair) · sh у̀ништити (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru стере́ть ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · ko 파괴하다 (to damage beyond use or repair) · st a timetse (to damage beyond use or repair) · kum дагъытмакъ (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi kōpenupenu (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl vernietigen ((informal) to utterly defeat) · ka განადგურება (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi hoepapa (to damage beyond use or repair) · ltg iznycynuot (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt destruir ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · mi whakamōtī (to damage beyond use or repair) · uga 𐎕𐎎𐎚 (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl vernielen (to neutralize) · et hävitama (to damage beyond use or repair) · mwl çtruir (to damage beyond use or repair) · la auferō (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl vernietigen (to damage beyond use or repair) · is rústa (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ทำการุณยฆาต (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · is skemma (to damage beyond use or repair) · enm stroyen (to damage beyond use or repair) · km កំទេច (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt sacrificar (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · phn 𐤀𐤁𐤃 (to damage beyond use or repair) · scn distrùjiri (to damage beyond use or repair) · fi tuhota ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · pt destruir ((informal) to utterly defeat) · vi phá huỷ (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi whakangahi (to damage beyond use or repair) · la populor (to damage beyond use or repair) · hi नष्ट करना (to damage beyond use or repair) · az məhv etmək (to damage beyond use or repair) · mwl çtroçar (to damage beyond use or repair) · vi huỷ hoại (to damage beyond use or repair) · es destrozar (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt destruir (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru истребля́ть (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · es romper (to damage beyond use or repair) · he הָרַס (to damage beyond use or repair) · ba юйыу ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · gld хэпули- (to damage beyond use or repair) · is eyðileggja (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl kapot maken (to damage beyond use or repair) · mk уништи (to damage beyond use or repair) · hi बर्बाद करना (to damage beyond use or repair) · ka დანგრევა (to damage beyond use or repair) · got 𐌵𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to damage beyond use or repair) · sw -haribu (to damage beyond use or repair) · uk зни́щувати (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg изтри́вам ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · cmn 銷毀 /销毁 (to damage beyond use or repair) · es escocherar (to damage beyond use or repair) · el καταστρέφω (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru разруша́ть (to damage beyond use or repair) · ba юҡҡа сығарыу (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ทำลาย (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ลบข้อมูล ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · ru уничто́жить (to damage beyond use or repair) · eo ekstermi (to damage beyond use or repair) · egy s-sk-k-s-sk-k:nDs (to damage beyond use or repair) · fro mehaignier (to damage beyond use or repair) · nb ødelegge (to damage beyond use or repair) · ltg nycynuot (to damage beyond use or repair) · uk розвали́ти (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc φθείρω (to damage beyond use or repair) · cy dinistrio (to damage beyond use or repair) · la abolefaciō (to damage beyond use or repair) · enm destroyen (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi whakangawhi (to damage beyond use or repair) · enm merren (to damage beyond use or repair) · km បំផ្លាញ (to damage beyond use or repair) · uk зруйнува́ти (to damage beyond use or repair) · sv avliva (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · br freuzañ (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt acabar com (to neutralize) · eo detrui (to damage beyond use or repair) · pl niszczyć (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg унищожа́вам (to damage beyond use or repair) · cho nasholichi (to damage beyond use or repair) · fa تباه کردن (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc καταφθείρω (to damage beyond use or repair) · ga slad (to damage beyond use or repair) · ko 말살하다 (to damage beyond use or repair) · be руйнава́ць (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl verwoesten (to damage beyond use or repair) · fr détruire (to damage beyond use or repair) · ro distruge (to damage beyond use or repair) · yi חרובֿ מאַכן (to damage beyond use or repair) · mba naguba (to damage beyond use or repair) · es sacrificar (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · th ฆ่า (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · ota ییقمق (to damage beyond use or repair) · de vernichtend schlagen ((informal) to utterly defeat) · nl verpulveren ((informal) to utterly defeat) · hy ոչնչացնել (to damage beyond use or repair) · ko 부수다 (to damage beyond use or repair) · fa نابود کردن (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg изтре́бвам (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · de zerstören (to neutralize) · sa नाशयति (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru сокруши́ть ((informal) to utterly defeat) · grc ἀποφθείρω (to damage beyond use or repair) · ja 破壊する (to damage beyond use or repair) · ar دَمَّرَ (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc ἀπόλλυμι (to damage beyond use or repair) · be ні́шчыць (to damage beyond use or repair) · cmn 摧毀 /摧毁 (to damage beyond use or repair) · mn сүйтгэх (to damage beyond use or repair) · cmn 銷毀 /销毁 (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · uk розва́люватити (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru истреби́ть (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · sv spöa ((informal) to utterly defeat) · cmn 人道毀滅 /人道毁灭 (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · hu megsemmisít (to damage beyond use or repair) · ota بوزمق (to damage beyond use or repair) · ur برباد کرنا (to damage beyond use or repair) · hu szétrombol (to damage beyond use or repair) · ltg propuļdeit (to damage beyond use or repair) · cs ničit (to damage beyond use or repair) · de zerstören ((informal) to utterly defeat) · pl rujnować (to damage beyond use or repair) · gl destruír (to damage beyond use or repair) · uz yiqmoq (to damage beyond use or repair) · uz yoʻq qilmoq (to damage beyond use or repair) · arz روح (to damage beyond use or repair) · txb näk- (to damage beyond use or repair) · ka მოსპობა (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi whakakorekore (to damage beyond use or repair) · chr ᎠᏲᏍᏙᏗ (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ชนะราบคาบ ((informal) to utterly defeat) · bg разруша́ (to damage beyond use or repair) · fro destruire (to damage beyond use or repair) · ca destruir (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc διαφθείρω (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt destruir (to neutralize) · sv förstöra (to damage beyond use or repair) · cs zničit (to damage beyond use or repair) · fur distruzi (to damage beyond use or repair) · evn эвми (to damage beyond use or repair) · pl miażdżyć ((informal) to utterly defeat) · nl laten inslapen (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · lt sunaikinti (to damage beyond use or repair) · lo ທໍາລາຍ (to damage beyond use or repair) · hu pusztít (to damage beyond use or repair) · de kaputtmachen (to neutralize) · be знішча́ць (to damage beyond use or repair) · fi lopettaa (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · ms musnah (to damage beyond use or repair) · tg нест кардан (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl tenietdoen (to neutralize) · sk znehodnotiť (to damage beyond use or repair) · sl uničevati (to damage beyond use or repair) · arz خرب (to damage beyond use or repair) · uk зни́щити (to damage beyond use or repair) · sv mosa ((informal) to utterly defeat) · lv iznīcināt (to damage beyond use or repair) · nrf dêtruithe (to damage beyond use or repair) · scn rùmpiri (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru стира́ть ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · mi whakahotu (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg изтри́я ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · fr euthanasier (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · da aflive (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · kmr têkşikandin (to damage beyond use or repair) · tl wasakin (to damage beyond use or repair) · hmc kom puas rau (to damage beyond use or repair) · pl zniszczyć (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ทำลาย (to neutralize) · ga loit (to damage beyond use or repair) · sux 𒋗𒅆𒌨 (to damage beyond use or repair) · ka დაქცევა (to damage beyond use or repair) · sq shkatërroj (to damage beyond use or repair) · wa distrure (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru уничтожа́ть (to damage beyond use or repair) · mi whakangaro (to damage beyond use or repair) · io destruktar (to damage beyond use or repair) · es destruir (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl slopen (to damage beyond use or repair) · zdj hwangamiza (to damage beyond use or repair) · es profligar (to damage beyond use or repair) · ro nimici (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg изтре́бя (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · fi murskata ((informal) to utterly defeat) · hu töröl ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · bg разруша́вам (to damage beyond use or repair) · be зні́шчыць (to damage beyond use or repair) · ru разру́шить (to damage beyond use or repair) · txb kärst- (to damage beyond use or repair) · th ทำให้สูญ (to neutralize) · fro gaster (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl kapot maken (to neutralize) · fa کشتن (to put down or euthanize (e.g. an animal)) · ba емереү (to damage beyond use or repair) · grc ἀνᾱλίσκω (to damage beyond use or repair) · ktu bebisa (to damage beyond use or repair) · fa از بین بردن (to damage beyond use or repair) · bg унищожа́ (to damage beyond use or repair) · tr yok etmek (to damage beyond use or repair) · nl wissen ((computing) to remove data (e.g., from memory)) · de kaputtmachen (to damage beyond use or repair) · sk ničiť (to damage beyond use or repair) · it annichilare (to damage beyond use or repair) · liv nītsiņtõ (to damage beyond use or repair) · hi नाश करना (to damage beyond use or repair) · pt arruinar (to damage beyond use or repair)