destroy — to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
Example Sentences
- My little brother destroyed my LEGO castle in 3 seconds flat.
- The fire destroyed the entire forest.
- She destroyed her diet by eating five donuts for breakfast.
destroy
VERB[/dɪˈstrɔɪ/]
to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used

A wrecking ball destroys the old brick building completely

Don't let broken toys destroy your joy!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'destruire', derived from Latin 'destruere', composed of the prefix 'de-' (down, away) and 'struere' (to build, construct), literally meaning 'to unbuild'.
Breakdown
de- (down, away) + stru (build) + -oy (variant of -oy from Old French) = destroy (to tear down, to undo construction)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother destroyed my LEGO castle in 3 seconds flat.”
“The fire destroyed the entire forest.”
“She destroyed her diet by eating five donuts for breakfast.”
“The virus destroyed all the data on my computer.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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