Eventually our problems with money destroyed our marriage. All the files were deliberately destroyed. The disease destroys the body's ability to fight off illness. The bomb blast destroyed the village. The dog had to be destroyed since its owner could not prevent it from attacking people.
Recent Examples on the WebAccording to Citigroup, the U.S. dollar is the only sensible hedge against looming economic headwinds that will destroy riskier assets’ value. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 For example, countries with ballistic missiles and missile-defense systems could develop the technology for a missile that could destroy spacecraft.WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 In York, Cindy Donnell, the wife and mother of four fishermen, said their family and others have been barraged by regulations and attacks on their industry that will eventually destroy it. Max Sullivan, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 The film, which examines the effects of Indonesia’s military dictatorship on the country’s youth, follows a young man torn between loyalty and justice who confronts the truth of his father figure — a retired general — that may destroy them both. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2022 Recent research shows that climate change and widespread deforestation are pushing the rainforest to a tipping point that could destroy its ability to recover from such damage.New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 There is nothing that could destroy the societal and personal rulebooks in your life more quickly than being truthful to yourself. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 31 July 2022 Instead, Gorr will discover the sword that can destroy gods. Chris Smith, BGR, 27 June 2022 Under the 1973 law, federal agencies cannot fund, permit or take actions that would destroy or severely damage critical habitats. John Flesher, ajc, 23 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build — more at structure