Destroy
verb
To end the existence of something by damaging it, to make it impossible for it to continue in its original state.
The hurricane destroyed many houses.
Often appears as...
- destroy property
- destroy reputation
verb
To defeat someone easily in a competition, game, or argument.
Our football team will destroy their competition.
Often appears as...
- destroy the competition
- destroy the enemy
verb
To kill in large numbers or wipe out an entire group of people or animals.
The disease could destroy the entire population of the village.
Often appears as...
- destroy an army
- destroy a population
verb
Used in computing to refer to an operation that invalidates a pointer or reference, or that deallocates memory.
If you delete a file, the operating system may destroy the data by simply marking its space as available for new data.
Often appears as...
- destroy data
- destroy a file
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To end the existence of something by damaging it, to make it impossible for it to continue in its original state.
The hurricane destroyed many houses.
Often appears as...
- destroy property
- destroy reputation
verb
To defeat someone easily in a competition, game, or argument.
Our football team will destroy their competition.
Often appears as...
- destroy the competition
- destroy the enemy
verb
To kill in large numbers or wipe out an entire group of people or animals.
The disease could destroy the entire population of the village.
Often appears as...
- destroy an army
- destroy a population
verb
Used in computing to refer to an operation that invalidates a pointer or reference, or that deallocates memory.
If you delete a file, the operating system may destroy the data by simply marking its space as available for new data.
Often appears as...
- destroy data
- destroy a file
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impact
Used when physical damage is so severe that restoration is impossible.
The earthquake destroyed the bridge completely.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Carries a strong emotional tone, often suggesting sadness or loss.
Seeing her childhood home destroyed was heart-wrenching.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can be used metaphorically to describe ruining something non-physical, like a plan.
His careless mistake destroyed our chances of winning.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impact
Used when physical damage is so severe that restoration is impossible.
The earthquake destroyed the bridge completely.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Carries a strong emotional tone, often suggesting sadness or loss.
Seeing her childhood home destroyed was heart-wrenching.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can be used metaphorically to describe ruining something non-physical, like a plan.
His careless mistake destroyed our chances of winning.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impact
Used when physical damage is so severe that restoration is impossible.
The earthquake destroyed the bridge completely.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Carries a strong emotional tone, often suggesting sadness or loss.
Seeing her childhood home destroyed was heart-wrenching.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can be used metaphorically to describe ruining something non-physical, like a plan.
His careless mistake destroyed our chances of winning.
Compare with
annihilatordecimatedemolishdevastateeradicateexterminateobliterateruinsmash
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Video examples
How the food you eat...
Like the other organs in our bodies, our brains also benefit from a steady supply of micronutrients. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells, enabling your brain to work well for a longer period of time. And without powerful micronutrients,
Video examples
Will we ever be able to...
we're not permitted to fully read without destroying it? The answer can be found in the strange phenomena of quantum entanglement. Entanglement is an old mystery from the early days of quantum physics and it's still not entirely understood. Entangling the spin of two electrons results in an influence
Video examples
Can you solve the virus...
It seems like you're out of luck, unless you look at the rules carefully and notice an important exception. It's true that once you activate the switch in a contaminated room, it's destroyed and you can never go back. But there's one room that wasn't contaminated - the entrance.
Video examples
Why it’s so hard to cure...
the virus replicates within helper T cells, destroying many of them in the process. During this stage, patients often experience flu-like symptoms, but are typically not yet in mortal danger. However, for a period ranging from a few months to several years,
Video examples
What is bipolar...
and electroconvulsive therapy, which works like a carefully controlled seizure in the brain, is sometimes used as an emergency treatment. Some bipolar patients reject treatment because they're afraid it will dim their emotions and destroy their creativity.
Video examples
Jupiter 101 PIPE National...
being the first planet to form, attracted and destroyed space debris that would've helped the other planets grow in size. Today, that force may serve as a shield by attracting comets and asteroids onto Jupiter's own surface,
Video examples
The surprising reason...
But what's the point of all of these unpleasant symptoms? Well, we're not yet sure, but some theorize that they aid in recovery. The rise in temperature can slow bacteria and help your immune system destroy pathogens.
Video examples
Pamela Ronald: The case...
Well, we can, and it's not difficult, because we have the same goal. We want to help nourish the growing population without further destroying the environment. I believe this is the greatest challenge of our time.
Video examples
Elephant Mating,...
And thousands are engulfed and destroyed. But the fittest survive, only to run into a protective cloud that shrouds the egg and causes some of the sperm to explode prematurely.
Video examples
What forgiveness can...
makes or destroys you and I'm not fully forgiven him hundred percent because forgiveness is a process the important thing with forgiveness is to start you
Video examples
How the food you eat...
Like the other organs in our bodies, our brains also benefit from a steady supply of micronutrients. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells, enabling your brain to work well for a longer period of time. And without powerful micronutrients,
Video examples
Will we ever be able to...
we're not permitted to fully read without destroying it? The answer can be found in the strange phenomena of quantum entanglement. Entanglement is an old mystery from the early days of quantum physics and it's still not entirely understood. Entangling the spin of two electrons results in an influence
Video examples
Can you solve the virus...
It seems like you're out of luck, unless you look at the rules carefully and notice an important exception. It's true that once you activate the switch in a contaminated room, it's destroyed and you can never go back. But there's one room that wasn't contaminated - the entrance.
Video examples
Why it’s so hard to cure...
the virus replicates within helper T cells, destroying many of them in the process. During this stage, patients often experience flu-like symptoms, but are typically not yet in mortal danger. However, for a period ranging from a few months to several years,
Video examples
What is bipolar...
and electroconvulsive therapy, which works like a carefully controlled seizure in the brain, is sometimes used as an emergency treatment. Some bipolar patients reject treatment because they're afraid it will dim their emotions and destroy their creativity.
Video examples
Jupiter 101 PIPE National...
being the first planet to form, attracted and destroyed space debris that would've helped the other planets grow in size. Today, that force may serve as a shield by attracting comets and asteroids onto Jupiter's own surface,
Video examples
The surprising reason...
But what's the point of all of these unpleasant symptoms? Well, we're not yet sure, but some theorize that they aid in recovery. The rise in temperature can slow bacteria and help your immune system destroy pathogens.
Video examples
Pamela Ronald: The case...
Well, we can, and it's not difficult, because we have the same goal. We want to help nourish the growing population without further destroying the environment. I believe this is the greatest challenge of our time.
Video examples
Elephant Mating,...
And thousands are engulfed and destroyed. But the fittest survive, only to run into a protective cloud that shrouds the egg and causes some of the sperm to explode prematurely.
Video examples
What forgiveness can...
makes or destroys you and I'm not fully forgiven him hundred percent because forgiveness is a process the important thing with forgiveness is to start you
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Theodore Roosevelt
American President
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
Presidents quickly realize that while a single act might destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life suddenly better or can turn history around for the good.
Quote examples
Tyler Perry
American Actor
My biggest success is getting over the things that have tried to destroy and take me out of this life. Those are my biggest successes. It has nothing to do with work.
Quote examples
Jack Welch
American Businessman
Strong managers who make tough decisions to cut jobs provide the only true job security in today's world. Weak managers are the problem. Weak managers destroy jobs.
Quote examples
Kurt Cobain
American Singer
Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with with your self-esteem. They're no good at all.
Quote examples
Nicolas Cage
Actor
The end of the world is on people's minds. We have the power to destroy or save ourselves, but the question is what do you do with that responsibility.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Death wasn't part of God's original plan for humanity, and the Bible calls death an enemy - the last enemy to be destroyed.
Quote examples
Voltaire
French Writer
Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.
Quote examples
J. Robert Oppenheimer
American Physicist
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
The white man is destroying the world.
Quote examples
Theodore Roosevelt
American President
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
Presidents quickly realize that while a single act might destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life suddenly better or can turn history around for the good.
Quote examples
Tyler Perry
American Actor
My biggest success is getting over the things that have tried to destroy and take me out of this life. Those are my biggest successes. It has nothing to do with work.
Quote examples
Jack Welch
American Businessman
Strong managers who make tough decisions to cut jobs provide the only true job security in today's world. Weak managers are the problem. Weak managers destroy jobs.
Quote examples
Kurt Cobain
American Singer
Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with with your self-esteem. They're no good at all.
Quote examples
Nicolas Cage
Actor
The end of the world is on people's minds. We have the power to destroy or save ourselves, but the question is what do you do with that responsibility.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Death wasn't part of God's original plan for humanity, and the Bible calls death an enemy - the last enemy to be destroyed.
Quote examples
Voltaire
French Writer
Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.
Quote examples
J. Robert Oppenheimer
American Physicist
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
The white man is destroying the world.
Example 1 of 10
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