Definition of destroy | Collins English Dictionary

destroy (dɪˈstrɔɪ)

deˈstroyable adjective

C13: from Old French destruire, from Latin dēstruere to pull down, from de- + struere to pile up, build

View thesaurus entry

= slaughter, kill, put down, exterminate, put to sleep

= defeat, beat, master, tank, crush, overwhelm, conquer, overthrow, lick, undo, subdue, rout, overpower, quell, trounce, clobber, stuff, vanquish, subjugate, run rings around, wipe the floor with make mincemeat of, pip at the post outplay, blow out of the water

British English: destroy To destroy something means to cause so much damage to it that it is completely ruined or does not exist any more.The building was completely destroyed.dɪˈstrɔɪ VERB The building was completely destroyed.
Spanish: destruir v
French: détruire vt
German: zerstören v
Chinese: 破坏 v
Arabic: يُدَمِّرُ v
Portuguese: destruir v
Russian: уничтожать v
Croatian: uništiti v
Czech: zničit v ničit
Danish: ødelægge v
Dutch: verwoesten v
Finnish: tuhota v
Greek: καταστρέφω v
Italian: distruggere v
Japanese: 破壊する v
Korean: 파괴하다 v
Norwegian: ødelegge v
Polish: zniszczyć v niszczyć
Brazilian Portuguese: destruir v
European Spanish: destruir v
Swedish: förstöra v
Thai: ทำลาย v
Turkish: yok etmek v
Vietnamese: phá hủy v

She had done everything in her power to destroy him; the risk she had taken was that he would fight back.
Val McDermid, THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
Blockbuster: In WWII it referred to a bomb powerful enough to destroy a city block.
Maxim (2004)
This was due in no small part to the absence of Steven Gerrard, the man most likely to destroy opponents with a well-judged pass.
Irish Times (2002)
Comte said that only what has been replaced is really destroyed and psychoanalysis is used to destroy faith.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
One careless action for immediate gain will destroy the balance of Nature.
Marian Green, WILD WITCHCRAFT: A Guide to Natural, Herbal and Earth Magic (2002)