destruction
dihs-TRUHK-shuhn
Destruction (noun) means the act of destroying something, or the state of having been destroyed. Example: “The hurricane left a trail of destruction along the coast.”
noun
1
The act of destroying something, or the state of having been destroyed.
"The hurricane left a trail of destruction along the coast."
"Years of neglect led to the destruction of the old theatre."
"The destruction of the old bridge by the flood cut the village off for days."
"About 1500 B.C., however, a powerful earthquake caused widespread destruction, and thereafter there were major changes. An earlier script, undeciphered, but known as Linear A, was replaced by the Greek Linear B."
— Joseph Tainter, Introduction to collapse (1988)
"The destruction of the condemned building will take place at noon."
How to use destruction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act, or the aftermath, of something being wiped out.
Common pairings
mass destruction
a path of destruction
lead to destruction
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Word forms
- Plural
- destructions
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The hurricane left a trail of _____ along the coast.
Etymology
From Latin destructio, from destruere, "to destroy".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for destruction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for destruction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “destruction” mean?
The word “destruction” means the act of destroying something, or the state of having been destroyed. In plain terms, the act, or the aftermath, of something being wiped out.
How do you pronounce “destruction”?
“Destruction” is pronounced dihs-TRUHK-shuhn (/dɪsˈtɹʌkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “destruction” in a sentence?
Here is “destruction” used in a sentence: “The hurricane left a trail of destruction along the coast.”
What is another word for “destruction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “destruction” include annihilation, demolition, elimination, eradication, extermination and extinguishment.
What is the opposite of “destruction”?
The opposite of “destruction” — its antonyms — are construction, creation, building, making and production.
What part of speech is “destruction”?
“Destruction” is a noun.
Where does the word “destruction” come from?
The word “destruction” comes from Latin. From Latin destructio, from destruere, "to destroy".
Is “destruction” a common word?
“Destruction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between destruction and demolition?
"Demolition" is deliberate, usually controlled destruction, most often of buildings and other structures. "Destruction" is the broader term for the act of destroying anything, whether deliberate or accidental, as in "the destruction caused by the storm."
What is the difference between destruction and devastation?
"Destruction" refers to the act of destroying something or the state of having been destroyed. "Devastation" emphasises the scale of the ruin and its impact, describing widespread, overwhelming damage: a single document can suffer destruction, but a whole region suffers devastation.
What is the verb form of destruction?
The verb is "destroy," as in "the fire destroyed the warehouse." The related adjective is "destructive," describing something that causes destruction, and a "destroyer" is a person or thing that destroys.
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