Destroy Meaning and Definition
Destroy
Pronunciation
/ˈdɪstʁɔɪ/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A thing or entity that is being damaged, destroyed, or does damage.
Examples
- The storm destroyed a large portion of the city.
- She destroyed her ex-boyfriend’s reputation after he cheated on her.
Synonyms
- Annihilate
- Crush
- Ruin
Antonyms
- Preserve
- Save
- Protect
Etymology
The word “destroy” comes from the Old French “destroier”, which is derived from the Latin “destruere”, meaning “to pull down”.
Usage Notes
When used as a verb, “destroy” typically implies complete and utter annihilation. Note that in some cases, it may be used to describe the act of destroying something, rather than the resulting state.
Cultural References
In popular culture, the term “destroy” is often used in video games, such as the “Destroy All Humans!” series, and in phrases like “destroy the competition”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- “Destroy the competition” means to surpass or outdo others in a particular field.
- “Raze the ground and rebuild” means to completely destroy something in order to rebuild it.
Related Words or Phrases
- Bomb
- Ruin
- Annihilate
Collocations
- Destroy the enemy
- Destroy the competition
Frequency of Use
According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English, the word “destroy” is used approximately 120 times per million words in written English.
Common Misspellings
- Destory
- Destruy
- Desctrroy