destroy

The word “destroy” means to damage something so severely that it no longer exists or can't be repaired. In plain terms, to ruin or wipe out something completely, or (informally) to beat someone badly.

“Destroy” is pronounced dih-STROY (/dɪˈstɹɔɪ/ in IPA).

Here is “destroy” used in a sentence: “The fire destroyed the entire warehouse.”

Words with a similar meaning to “destroy” include annihilate, break, demolish, kill, ruin and waste.

The opposite of “destroy” — its antonyms — are build, construct, create, make and raise.

“Destroy” is a verb.

The word “destroy” comes from Latin. From Old French destruire, from Latin destruere, "to un-build" — from de- ("un-") and struere ("to build").

“Destroy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Damage means to harm something so it works less well or looks worse, but it can often be repaired. Destroy is far stronger — it means to ruin something completely, beyond saving or existence. A storm might damage a roof but destroy an entire house, leaving nothing to restore.

The main opposites are build, create, and construct, all of which bring something into being. Other antonyms include repair, restore, and preserve, which mend or protect rather than ruin. Where destroy ends something completely, these words either begin it or keep it safe and intact.

Yes. Beyond physical ruin, destroy often describes emotional or competitive situations — bad news can destroy someone's confidence, or a team can destroy its rivals in a match. In these uses it means to overwhelm or defeat utterly, keeping the sense of total, decisive impact from its literal meaning.

A fire can destroy a building, leaving nothing but ash. Floods destroy crops, and a shredder destroys documents so they can never be read again. Each example shows destroy meaning complete, irreversible loss rather than the partial harm suggested by a milder word like damage.