Destroyed Destroy Dɪˈstrɔɪ Destroying Completely Earthquake Verb Building

• the building was completely destroyed by fire.
• the earthquake damaged or destroyed countless homes.
• some of the habitat has already been totally destroyed.
• they've destroyed all the evidence.

destroy

Word Family

• destroy verb
• destroyer noun
• destruction noun
• destructive adjective
• indestructible adjective

Verb Forms

1. to damage something so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc.
• The building was completely destroyed by fire.
• The earthquake damaged or destroyed countless homes.
• Some of the habitat has already been totally destroyed.
• They've destroyed all the evidence.

Extra Examples

• Drugs can destroy the health and lives of young people.
• He physically destroyed the computer by smashing it to pieces.
• Our greed may ultimately destroy the planet.
• She seemed intent on destroying everything they had built up together.
• That guy just single-handedly destroyed everything we've worked for.
• The bomb hit, instantly destroying the building.
• The earthquake literally destroyed their villages.
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.
• These weapons are capable of destroying the entire planet.
• This disease threatens to destroy many of our native trees.
• a new attempt to destroy enemy positions
• The brigade's mission was to destroy the enemy.
• Heat gradually destroys vitamin C.
• You have destroyed my hopes of happiness.
2. to take all the value and pleasure from somebody's life; to ruin (= completely damage) somebody's life or reputation
• Failure was slowly destroying him.
• She threatened to destroy my reputation.
• He wanted revenge on the man who had destroyed his life.
• Their lives have been virtually destroyed by this tragedy.
3. to kill an animal deliberately, usually because it is sick or not wanted
• The injured horse had to be destroyed.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French destruire, based on Latin destruere, from de- (expressing reversal) + struere ‘build’.