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Destroy synonyms

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ruin
To bring or reduce to ruin
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  1. To bring or reduce to ruin
  2. (Archaic) To go or come to ruin
  3. To cause (a building, for example) to be in a destroyed, collapsed, or decayed state.
demolish
To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
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  1. To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
  2. To damage (someone's reputation, for example) severely.
  3. To do away with completely; put an end to:
exterminate
To get rid of by destroying completely:
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  1. To get rid of by destroying completely:
raze
(Archaic) To scrape or graze; wound slightly
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  1. (Archaic) To scrape or graze; wound slightly
  2. To demolish; to level to the ground.
  3. To tear down completely; level to the ground; demolish
destruct
To destroy (a rocket, etc.) deliberately by remote control
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  1. To destroy (a rocket, etc.) deliberately by remote control
  2. To intentionally cause the destruction of.
  3. To destroy intentionally (a rocket or missile) after launch.
annihilate
(Physics) To participate in annihilation. Used of particles and antiparticles.
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  1. (Physics) To participate in annihilation. Used of particles and antiparticles.
  2. To destroy completely:
  3. To consider or cause to be of no importance or without effect; nullify
throw-down
(Literal sense) to cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.
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  1. (Literal sense) to cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.
plunder
To rob or despoil (a person or place) by force, esp. in warfare
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  1. To rob or despoil (a person or place) by force, esp. in warfare
  2. To take (property) by force or fraud
  3. To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; pillage:
ransack
To loot or pillage. See also sack.
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  1. To loot or pillage. See also sack.
  2. To search thoroughly; examine every part of in searching
  3. To make a vigorous and thorough search of (a place, person) with a view to stealing something, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.
pillage
To deprive of money or property by violence; loot
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  1. To deprive of money or property by violence; loot
  2. To take spoils by force.
  3. To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; plunder.
eradicate
To tear out by the roots; uproot
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  1. To tear out by the roots; uproot
  2. To get rid of; eliminate:
overthrow
To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force.
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  1. To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force.
  2. To throw or turn over; upset
  3. (Sports) To throw a ball or other object over and beyond (an intended target):
devastate
To lay waste; make desolate; ravage; destroy
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  1. To lay waste; make desolate; ravage; destroy
  2. To overwhelm; confound; stun:
  3. To lay waste; destroy.
butcher
To kill or dress (animals) for meat
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  1. To kill or dress (animals) for meat
  2. To kill brutally or indiscriminately.
  3. To kill (people, game, etc.) brutally, senselessly, or in large numbers; slaughter
extirpate
To pull up by the roots.
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  1. To pull up by the roots.
  2. To destroy totally; kill off:
  3. To destroy or remove completely; exterminate; abolish
consume
To destroy totally; ravage:
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  1. To destroy totally; ravage:
  2. To purchase (goods or services) for direct use or ownership.
  3. To expend; use up:
liquidate
To eliminate, especially by killing.
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  1. To eliminate, especially by killing.
  2. To settle the affairs of (a business firm, for example) by determining the liabilities and applying the assets to their discharge.
  3. To set, by contract or stipulation, a fixed amount for damages resulting from a particular harm.
dissolve
To become disintegrated; disappear:
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  1. To become disintegrated; disappear:
  2. To be brought to an end; be annulled or terminated:
  3. To bring to an end, as by breaking up; terminate or annul:
blot out
To make indecipherable; to obliterate
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  1. To make indecipherable; to obliterate
  2. To obscure.
  3. Used other than as an idiom: see blot,"Ž out.
quash
To suppress a legal document, particularly a subpoena, for reasons based on defect in manner of service or for other procedural or substantive reasons that invalidate the document; to void or terminate; to vacate a judicial decision.
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  1. To suppress a legal document, particularly a subpoena, for reasons based on defect in manner of service or for other procedural or substantive reasons that invalidate the document; to void or terminate; to vacate a judicial decision.
  2. To annul or put an end to (a court order, indictment, or court proceedings).
  3. To put an end to or destroy:
quell
To put down forcibly; suppress:
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  1. To put down forcibly; suppress:
  2. To pacify; quiet:
  3. To crush; subdue; put an end to
level
(Informal) To be frank and open:
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  1. (Informal) To be frank and open:
  2. So as to be level; so as to be flat, even, in line, etc.
  3. To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize.
abort
To stop the progress of (a disease, for example).
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  1. To stop the progress of (a disease, for example).
  2. To cause (an embryo or fetus) to be expelled so as to end its life
  3. To end (a pregnancy) prematurely
suppress
To restrain the growth, activity, or release of:
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  1. To restrain the growth, activity, or release of:
  2. To end, prohibit, or keep something from being known, heard, discussed, or seen. To end, prohibit, or keep something from being known, heard, discussed, or seen.
  3. To put an end to forcibly; subdue:
squelch
To walk heavily, as through mud, making a sucking sound
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  1. To walk heavily, as through mud, making a sucking sound
  2. To produce a splashing, squishing, or sucking sound, as when walking through ooze.
  3. To suppress or silence completely and with a crushing effect
scuttle
To run or move with short hurried movements; scurry.
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  1. To run or move with short hurried movements; scurry.
  2. To sink (a ship) by this means.
  3. To run or move quickly; scurry, esp. away from danger, trouble, etc.
undo
To come open or unfastened.
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  1. To come open or unfastened.
  2. To open (a parcel, for example); unwrap.
  3. To put an end to; bring to ruin, disgrace, or downfall
ravage
To commit ravages
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  1. To commit ravages
  2. To pillage; sack:
  3. To destroy violently; ruin
spoliate
To rob, plunder, or despoil
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  1. To rob, plunder, or despoil
root-up
To dig or pull up by the roots; to deracinate.
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  1. To dig or pull up by the roots; to deracinate.
overturn
To ransack:
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  1. To ransack:
  2. To cause to fall over; knock or topple over:
  3. To turn or tip over; capsize
annul
To make an ecclesiastical or judicial declaration that a marriage is void ab initio and never existed. See also divorce.
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  1. To make an ecclesiastical or judicial declaration that a marriage is void ab initio and never existed. See also divorce.
  2. To judicially declare something to be void either from the date of decree or ab initio.
  3. To bring to an end the effect or existence of; cancel out:
impair
To make worse, less, weaker, etc.; reduce an ability or function
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  1. To make worse, less, weaker, etc.; reduce an ability or function
  2. Of property or a contractual right, to interfere in such a way as to diminish its value. Of property or a contractual right, to interfere in such a way as to diminish its value.
  3. To cause to weaken, be damaged, or diminish, as in quality:
damage
To incur damage
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  1. To incur damage
  2. To cause damage to.
ravish
(Archaic) To seize and carry away by force.
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  1. (Archaic) To seize and carry away by force.
  2. To force (another) to have sexual intercourse; rape.
  3. To take by force or seize is the literal meaning of the word. It is generally synonymous with rape. Traditionally, an indictment for rape demanded inclusion of the word ravished, which implied use of force and or violence by the man and resistance by the female. To take by force or seize is the literal meaning of the word. It is generally synonymous with rape. Traditionally, an indictment for rape demanded inclusion of the word ravished, which implied use of force and or violence by the man and resistance by the female.
deface
(Obsolete) To obliterate; destroy.
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  1. (Obsolete) To obliterate; destroy.
  2. To impair the usefulness, value, or influence of.
  3. To mar or spoil the appearance or surface of; disfigure.
maraud
To rove and raid in search of plunder.
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  1. To rove and raid in search of plunder.
  2. To rove in search of plunder; make raids
  3. To raid; plunder; pillage
dilapidate
(Archaic) To squander; waste.
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  1. (Archaic) To squander; waste.
  2. To bring or fall into a state of partial ruin, decay, or disrepair.
  3. To become or cause to become partially ruined and in need of repairs, as through neglect
expunge
To eliminate completely; wipe out:
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  1. To eliminate completely; wipe out:
  2. To erase, delete, or strike out:
  3. To erase or remove completely; blot out or strike out; delete; cancel
efface
To rub out, as from a surface; erase; wipe out; obliterate
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  1. To rub out, as from a surface; erase; wipe out; obliterate
  2. (Medicine) To become shorter, softer, and thinner during labor. Used of the cervix.
  3. (Medicine) To cause to become shorter, softer, and thinner during labor:
shatter
To break into pieces; smash or burst:
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  1. To break into pieces; smash or burst:
  2. To cause the destruction or ruin of; destroy:
  3. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow.
split-up
(Intransitive, idiomatic, Of a group of people) Cease to be together, break apart from the group.
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  1. (Intransitive, idiomatic, Of a group of people) Cease to be together, break apart from the group.
  2. Separate, disassociate, cause to come apart.
crush
To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
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  1. To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
  2. To be or become crushed:
  3. To press between two opposing forces so as to break or injure; put out of shape or condition by pressure; squeeze together; crumple
obliterate
To blot out or wear away, leaving no traces; erase; efface
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  1. To blot out or wear away, leaving no traces; erase; efface
  2. (Medicine) To remove completely (a body organ or part), as by surgery, disease, or radiation.
  3. To remove or destroy completely so as to leave no trace.
self-destruct
To destroy itself automatically
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  1. To destroy itself automatically
  2. To destroy oneself or itself:
  3. To greatly harm oneself or itself, specif. as the result of inherent or fundamental flaws
abolish
To do away with completely; put an end to; esp., to make (a law, etc.) null and void
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  1. To do away with completely; put an end to; esp., to make (a law, etc.) null and void
  2. To do away with; put an end to; annul:
  3. To abrogate, annul, cancel, eliminate, put an end to, recall, repeal, or revoke, especially things of a seemingly permanent nature, such as customs, institutions, and usages. To abrogate, annul, cancel, eliminate, put an end to, recall, repeal, or revoke, especially things of a seemingly permanent nature, such as customs, institutions, and usages.
crash
(Informal) To join or enter (a party, for example) without invitation.
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  1. (Informal) To join or enter (a party, for example) without invitation.
  2. To move noisily or so as to cause damage:
  3. To make a sudden loud noise:
extinguish
To put an end to or make extinct; destroy:
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  1. To put an end to or make extinct; destroy:
  2. To cause (a fire or light) to stop burning or shining; put out.
  3. To put an end to; destroy or cause to die out
put-an-end-to
(Idiomatic) to terminate or abolish something
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  1. (Idiomatic) to terminate or abolish something
desolate
To make uninhabitable; lay waste; devastate
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  1. To make uninhabitable; lay waste; devastate
  2. To rid or deprive of inhabitants.
  3. To lay waste; devastate:
dynamite
To blow up or destroy with dynamite
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  1. To blow up or destroy with dynamite
  2. To blow up, shatter, or otherwise destroy with dynamite.
  3. A powerful explosive used in blasting and mining. It typically consists of nitroglycerin and a nitrate (especially sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate), combined with an absorbent material that makes it safer to handle.
put-a-damper-on
(Idiomatic) To stop people from enjoying an activity
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  1. (Idiomatic) To stop people from enjoying an activity
wreck
To bring to ruin or disaster; overthrow; thwart; defeat
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  1. To bring to ruin or disaster; overthrow; thwart; defeat
  2. To cause to undergo ruin or disaster:
  3. To suffer destruction or ruin; become wrecked:
dismantle
To take apart; disassemble; tear down.
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  1. To take apart; disassemble; tear down.
  2. To strip (a house, ship, etc.) of furniture, equipment, means of defense, etc.
  3. To put an end to in a gradual systematic way:
fell
To cause to fall; knock down
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  1. To cause to fall; knock down
  2. (Sewing) To turn over (the rough edge of a seam) and sew down flat on the underside
  3. To cause to fall by striking; cut or knock down:
upset
To become overturned or upset
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  1. To become overturned or upset
  2. To disturb the functioning, order, or course of:
  3. (Mech.) To shorten and thicken (a red-hot iron) by beating on the end
bomb
(Informal) To be a complete failure
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  1. (Informal) To be a complete failure
  2. To drop a bomb or bombs.
  3. To attack, damage, or destroy with a bomb or bombs
stave-in
To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.
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  1. To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.
despoil
To deprive of something valuable, especially by force; rob:
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  1. To deprive of something valuable, especially by force; rob:
  2. To deprive of something of value by or as by force; rob; plunder
  3. To ruin, especially by destroying or removing what is valuable:
sack
(Football) To tackle (a passer who is attempting a forward pass)
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  1. (Football) To tackle (a passer who is attempting a forward pass)
  2. (Football) To tackle (a quarterback attempting to pass the ball) behind the line of scrimmage.
  3. (Slang) To dismiss (a person) from a job; discharge
subvert
To overthrow or destroy (a government or an established order or authority).
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  1. To overthrow or destroy (a government or an established order or authority).
  2. To cause to serve a purpose other than the original or established one; commandeer or redirect:
  3. To undermine, overturn, or render ineffective (a rule or an established notion, such as a stereotype, for example).
mutilate
To damage or mar (an object):
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  1. To damage or mar (an object):
  2. To injure severely or disfigure, especially by cutting off tissue or body parts.
  3. To cut off or damage a limb or other important part of (a person or animal)
smash
To be destroyed; come to ruin
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  1. To be destroyed; come to ruin
  2. To cause to come into forceful contact with something:
  3. To break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow or collision:
trample
To beat down with the feet so as to crush, bruise, or destroy; tramp on.
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  1. To beat down with the feet so as to crush, bruise, or destroy; tramp on.
  2. To treat harshly or ruthlessly:
  3. To crush, destroy, hurt, violate, etc. by or as by treading heavily on
maim
To make imperfect or defective; impair:
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  1. To make imperfect or defective; impair:
  2. To injure, disable, or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body.
mar
To injure or damage so as to make imperfect, less attractive, etc.; spoil; impair; disfigure
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  1. To injure or damage so as to make imperfect, less attractive, etc.; spoil; impair; disfigure
  2. To impair the soundness, perfection, or integrity of; spoil.
  3. To inflict damage, especially disfiguring damage, on.
vitiate
To reduce the value or quality of; impair or spoil:
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  1. To reduce the value or quality of; impair or spoil:
  2. To invalidate either partially or completely.
  3. To interfere with; to impair; to render null and void; to cause to have no effect.
end
To form the last or concluding part of:
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  1. To form the last or concluding part of:
  2. To arrive at a place, situation, or condition as a result of a course of action. Often used with up :
  3. To bring to an end; finish; stop; conclude
counteract
To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of medicines; to counteract good advice.
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  1. To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of medicines; to counteract good advice.
  2. To act directly against; check, neutralize, or undo the effect of with opposing action
nullify
To make valueless or useless; bring to nothing
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  1. To make valueless or useless; bring to nothing
  2. To prevent from happening
  3. To counteract the force or effectiveness of.
blast
To cause to move with great force; hurl:
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  1. To cause to move with great force; hurl:
  2. To blow up or move with or as with an explosive; explode
  3. To emit a loud, intense sound; blare:
neutralize
To counterbalance or counteract the effect of; render ineffective.
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  1. To counterbalance or counteract the effect of; render ineffective.
  2. (Slang) To remove as a threat, especially by killing.
  3. To cause an acidic solution to become neutral by adding a base to it or to cause a basic solution to become neutral by adding an acid to it. Salt and water are usually formed in the process.
gut
To destroy the interior of:
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  1. To destroy the interior of:
  2. To extract essential or major parts of:
  3. To reduce or destroy the effectiveness of:
erase
To rub, scrape, or wipe out (esp. written or engraved letters); efface; expunge
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  1. To rub, scrape, or wipe out (esp. written or engraved letters); efface; expunge
  2. To remove (something written, for example) by rubbing, wiping, or scraping.
  3. To remove recorded material from (a magnetic tape or disk, for example):
sabotage
To engage in sabotage
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  1. To engage in sabotage
  2. To damage, destroy, or hinder (something) by sabotage.
  3. To injure or destroy by sabotage
repeal
The annullment of an existing law by the enactment of a new law. If the new law declares the old law to be revoked, the repeal is express. If the new law has provisions that contradict the old law so that both cannot logically exist together, the new law takes precedence and the repeal is implied. The annullment of an existing law by the enactment of a new law. If the new law declares the old law to be revoked, the repeal is express. If the new law has provisions that contradict the old law so that both cannot logically exist together, the new law takes precedence and the repeal is implied. The act of annulling a law.
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  1. The annullment of an existing law by the enactment of a new law. If the new law declares the old law to be revoked, the repeal is express. If the new law has provisions that contradict the old law so that both cannot logically exist together, the new law takes precedence and the repeal is implied. The annullment of an existing law by the enactment of a new law. If the new law declares the old law to be revoked, the repeal is express. If the new law has provisions that contradict the old law so that both cannot logically exist together, the new law takes precedence and the repeal is implied. The act of annulling a law.
  2. To revoke or rescind, especially by the action of a legislature.
  3. (Obsolete) To summon back or recall, especially from exile.
terminate
To have its end (in something)
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  1. To have its end (in something)
  2. To come to an end in space or time; stop; end
  3. To occur at or form the end of; conclude or finish:
conclude
To arrange or settle; come to an agreement about
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  1. To arrange or settle; come to an agreement about
  2. To come to a decision or agreement:
  3. To come to a close; end; finish
finish
To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
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  1. To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
  2. To bring to an end; complete
  3. To arrive at or attain the end of:
stop
To close (a finger hole of a wind instrument) so as to produce a desired tone
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  1. To close (a finger hole of a wind instrument) so as to produce a desired tone
  2. To be able to go no further; come to an end
  3. To bring to an end; discontinue
put-a-stop-to
(Idiomatic) To terminate or abolish something.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To terminate or abolish something.
dissipate
To drive away; cause to vanish:
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  1. To drive away; cause to vanish:
  2. To spend much time and energy on indulgence in pleasure, esp. drinking, gambling, etc., to the point of harming oneself
  3. To break apart or attenuate to the point of disappearing:
dispel
To scatter and drive away; cause to vanish; disperse
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  1. To scatter and drive away; cause to vanish; disperse
  2. To break up, drive away, or cause to disappear:
make-short-work-of
(Idiomatic) To make (a task) quicker or easier.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To make (a task) quicker or easier.
  2. (Idiomatic) To deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty.
total
To equal a total of; amount to:
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  1. To equal a total of; amount to:
  2. To find the total of; add
  3. To determine the total of; add up:
scorch
To become scorched or singed.
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  1. To become scorched or singed.
  2. To destroy (land and buildings) by fire or military action so as to leave nothing salvageable to an enemy army.
  3. To go or move at a very fast, often excessively fast rate.
blitz
(Football) To charge (the quarterback) in a blitz
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  1. (Football) To charge (the quarterback) in a blitz
  2. To carry out a blitz.
  3. To subject to a blitz; overwhelm and destroy
cream
To form cream or a creamy foam on top
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  1. To form cream or a creamy foam on top
  2. To remove, use, etc. (the best or most desirable items)
  3. To take the best part from:
murder
To kill (a person) unlawfully and with malice
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  1. To kill (a person) unlawfully and with malice
  2. To kill (another human) in an act of murder.
  3. To commit murder
slay
(Slang) To impress, delight, amuse, etc. with overwhelming force
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  1. (Slang) To impress, delight, amuse, etc. with overwhelming force
  2. To kill or destroy in a violent way
  3. (Slang) To overwhelm, as with laughter or love:
slaughter
(Informal) To conquer or defeat completely
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  1. (Informal) To conquer or defeat completely
  2. To kill (animals) especially for food; butcher.
  3. To kill in a violent or brutal manner.
bankrupt
To force into bankruptcy.
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  1. To force into bankruptcy.
  2. To ruin:
  3. To cause to become financially bankrupt.
break down
(Ergative, figuratively) to divide into parts to give more details, to provide a more indepth analysis of
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  1. (Ergative, figuratively) to divide into parts to give more details, to provide a more indepth analysis of
  2. (Intransitive) to fail, to cease to function
  3. (Ergative, figuratively) to render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally
demolish
To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
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  1. To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
  2. To damage (someone's reputation, for example) severely.
  3. To do away with completely; put an end to:
finish
To destroy; kill:
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  1. To destroy; kill:
  2. To bring to a required or desired state:
  3. To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
ruin
To deflower or seduce (a woman) and, often, specif., thereby render her unmarriageable, disgraced, etc.
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  1. To deflower or seduce (a woman) and, often, specif., thereby render her unmarriageable, disgraced, etc.
  2. To bring or reduce to ruin
  3. To cause (a building, for example) to be in a destroyed, collapsed, or decayed state.
shatter
To cause the destruction or ruin of; destroy:
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  1. To cause the destruction or ruin of; destroy:
  2. To break or burst into pieces suddenly, as with a blow
  3. To break into pieces; smash or burst:
sink
To go below the surface of water or another liquid:
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  1. To go below the surface of water or another liquid:
  2. To become lower in value or amount; lessen, as prices, funds, etc.
  3. To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages:
smash
To cause to come into forceful contact with something:
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  1. To cause to come into forceful contact with something:
  2. To break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow or collision:
  3. To surpass or outdo by a large margin:
spoil
To become unfit for use or consumption, as from decay. Used especially of perishables, such as food.
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  1. To become unfit for use or consumption, as from decay. Used especially of perishables, such as food.
  2. (Archaic) To strip (a person) of goods, money, etc. by force
  3. To impair or destroy the value or quality of; ruin:
torpedo
To destroy decisively; wreck:
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  1. To destroy decisively; wreck:
  2. To attack, damage, or destroy with or as with a torpedo
  3. To attack, strike, or sink with a torpedo.
undo
To open (a parcel, door, etc.) by this means
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  1. To open (a parcel, door, etc.) by this means
  2. To come open or unfastened.
  3. To open (a parcel, for example); unwrap.
wrack
(Archaic) To wreck or be wrecked
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  1. (Archaic) To wreck or be wrecked
  2. To cause the ruin of; wreck.
  3. To subject to extreme mental or physical suffering; torture
wreck
To bring to ruin or disaster; overthrow; thwart; defeat
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  1. To bring to ruin or disaster; overthrow; thwart; defeat
  2. To cause to undergo ruin or disaster:
  3. To suffer destruction or ruin; become wrecked:
total
To find the total of; add
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  1. To find the total of; add
  2. To equal a total of; amount to:
  3. To equal a total of; add up to
demolish
To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
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  1. To tear down or break apart the structure of; raze.
  2. To damage (someone's reputation, for example) severely.
  3. To do away with completely; put an end to:
dismantle
To take apart; disassemble; tear down.
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  1. To take apart; disassemble; tear down.
  2. To put an end to in a gradual systematic way:
  3. To strip (a house, ship, etc.) of furniture, equipment, means of defense, etc.
dynamite
To blow up or destroy with dynamite
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  1. To blow up or destroy with dynamite
  2. To blow up, shatter, or otherwise destroy with dynamite.
  3. A powerful explosive used in blasting and mining. It typically consists of nitroglycerin and a nitrate (especially sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate), combined with an absorbent material that makes it safer to handle.
level
To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize.
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  1. To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize.
  2. To equalize in height, rank, quality, etc.
  3. (Informal) To be frank and open:
pulverize
To break down completely; demolish
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  1. To break down completely; demolish
  2. To overwhelm or defeat utterly:
  3. To be crushed, ground, etc. into powder or dust
raze
(Archaic) To scrape or graze; wound slightly
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  1. (Archaic) To scrape or graze; wound slightly
  2. To demolish; to level to the ground.
  3. To level to the ground; demolish.
wreck
To work as a wrecker
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  1. To work as a wrecker
  2. To cause the destruction of in a collision:
  3. To suffer destruction or ruin; become wrecked:
destruct
To intentionally cause the destruction of.
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  1. To intentionally cause the destruction of.
  2. To destroy (a rocket, etc.) deliberately by remote control
  3. To destroy intentionally (a rocket or missile) after launch.
cut down
Used other than as an idiom: see cut,"Ž down.
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  1. Used other than as an idiom: see cut,"Ž down.
  2. To bring down by cutting.
  3. (Idiomatic) To reduce the amount of something.
cut off
(Idiomatic) To interrupt (someone speaking).
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  1. (Idiomatic) To interrupt (someone speaking).
  2. To stop providing funds to someone.
  3. To end abruptly.
dispatch
To send off or out promptly, usually on a specific errand or official business
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  1. To send off or out promptly, usually on a specific errand or official business
  2. (Informal) To eat up quickly
  3. To finish quickly or promptly
finish
(Sports) To score a goal as the last maneuver in a play:
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  1. (Sports) To score a goal as the last maneuver in a play:
  2. To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
  3. To destroy; kill:
kill
To thwart passage of; veto:
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  1. To thwart passage of; veto:
  2. To destroy a vitally essential quality in:
  3. To spend (time) on matters of little or no importance
slay
(Slang) To overwhelm, as with laughter or love:
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  1. (Slang) To overwhelm, as with laughter or love:
  2. To kill or destroy in a violent way
  3. To kill violently.
waste
To pass without being put to use:
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  1. To pass without being put to use:
  2. To fail to take advantage of or use for profit; lose:
  3. (--- Slang) To kill; murder.
zap
In science fiction and fantasy, to transport (a person or thing) into another place or time instantaneously, as with an energy beam.
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  1. In science fiction and fantasy, to transport (a person or thing) into another place or time instantaneously, as with an energy beam.
  2. To use a TV remote control, as to change channels or to skip ahead on a tape, disc, etc.
  3. To destroy or kill:
finish
(Sports) To score a goal as the last maneuver in a play:
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  1. (Sports) To score a goal as the last maneuver in a play:
  2. To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
  3. To destroy; kill:
kill
To thwart passage of; veto:
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  1. To thwart passage of; veto:
  2. To destroy a vitally essential quality in:
  3. To spend (time) on matters of little or no importance
liquidate
To settle the affairs of (a business firm, for example) by determining the liabilities and applying the assets to their discharge.
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  1. To settle the affairs of (a business firm, for example) by determining the liabilities and applying the assets to their discharge.
  2. To set, by contract or stipulation, a fixed amount for damages resulting from a particular harm.
  3. To dispose of or get rid of, as by killing
murder
To commit murder
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  1. To commit murder
  2. To kill (a person) unlawfully and with malice
  3. To kill inhumanly or barbarously, as in warfare
slay
(Obs.) To strike or hit
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  1. (Obs.) To strike or hit
  2. (Slang) To overwhelm, as with laughter or love:
  3. To kill violently.
put away
(Baseball) To take a large lead in a game.
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  1. (Baseball) To take a large lead in a game.
  2. To place out of the way, clean up.
  3. (Colloquial) To consume (food or drink), especially in large quantities.
off
Away from one's work or usual activity
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  1. Away from one's work or usual activity
  2. So as to be completely removed, finished, or eliminated:
  3. (Slang) To kill; murder
waste
To pass without being put to use:
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  1. To pass without being put to use:
  2. To fail to take advantage of or use for profit; lose:
  3. (--- Slang) To kill; murder.
zap
In science fiction and fantasy, to transport (a person or thing) into another place or time instantaneously, as with an energy beam.
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  1. In science fiction and fantasy, to transport (a person or thing) into another place or time instantaneously, as with an energy beam.
  2. To use a TV remote control, as to change channels or to skip ahead on a tape, disc, etc.
  3. To destroy or kill:
break
To lessen the force or effect of:
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  1. To lessen the force or effect of:
  2. To cause to give up a habit:
  3. To fail to conform to; violate:
crush
To press between opposing bodies so as to break, compress, or injure:
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  1. To press between opposing bodies so as to break, compress, or injure:
  2. To be or become crushed:
  3. To proceed or move by crowding or pressing:
overwhelm
To turn over; upset:
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  1. To turn over; upset:
  2. To defeat completely and decisively:
  3. To present with an excessive amount:
ruin
To deflower or seduce (a woman) and, often, specif., thereby render her unmarriageable, disgraced, etc.
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  1. To deflower or seduce (a woman) and, often, specif., thereby render her unmarriageable, disgraced, etc.
  2. To bring or reduce to ruin
  3. (Archaic) To go or come to ruin

Synonym Study

  • To annihilate is to destroy so completely as to blot out of existence rights that cannot be annihilated
  • Raze means to level to the ground, either destructively or by systematic wrecking with a salvaging of useful parts
  • Demolish implies such destructive force as to completely smash to pieces and render useless the bombs demolished the factories, she demolished his argument
  • Destroy implies a tearing down or bringing to an end by wrecking, ruining, killing, eradicating, etc. and is the term of broadest application here to destroy a city, one's influence, etc.
Find another word for destroy. In this page you can discover 187 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for destroy, like: ruin, demolish, exterminate, raze, destruct, annihilate, tear down, throw-down, plunder, ransack and pillage.

Sentence Examples

  • Rhyn wanted to destroy the letter.

  • She said we have to destroy it, too.

  • Whatever you don't destroy, we will.

  • A long time ago, there was a battle so horrible it threatened to destroy the whole universe.

  • "But why destroy my friends?" asked the little Wizard.

More sentences →

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