destroy

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /dɪˈstrɔɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: de‧stroy

Verb

Plain form destroy

Third-person singular destroys

Past tense destroyed

Past participle destroyed

Present participle destroying

1. If you destroy something, you break it or make it not exist anymore.
   • Synonyms: break, smash, tear-up and crush
   • Antonyms: make, create, fix and repair

   The house was destroyed by the bomb.

2. If you destroy someone you hurt them badly, especially their feelings, or cause them much trouble.

   Mary was destroyed by her failiure to get into college.

   The other kids destroyed him with cruel lies.

Related words

• destroyer
• destruction
• destructive
• destruct
• self-destruct