as in ruined
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in demolished
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killed
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of destroyed
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Israeli military has also destroyed bridges over the Litani River.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Despite his love for the F-14, Carroll acknowledges that if the Israeli strikes have destroyed them, the loss is largely symbolic.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Standing behind a lectern in court, Mack Mercado recounted how his life has been destroyed in the two years since his partner Suleyca Rodriguez — the mother of his 6-year-old daughter — was killed by a drunk driver.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Last June, an early morning fire destroyed the first floor of Evangeline’s, Chaussé previously told The Sacramento Bee.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The fire destroyed more than 160 structures and charred 25,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
An additional 1,509 Starlink satellites were launched since May 2019, but have since reentered Earth's atmosphere and been destroyed.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
Reviewing the Pentagon’s video, Miguel said the footage showed buildings on his property being destroyed.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Israeli military has also destroyed bridges over the Litani River.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Despite his love for the F-14, Carroll acknowledges that if the Israeli strikes have destroyed them, the loss is largely symbolic.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Standing behind a lectern in court, Mack Mercado recounted how his life has been destroyed in the two years since his partner Suleyca Rodriguez — the mother of his 6-year-old daughter — was killed by a drunk driver.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Last June, an early morning fire destroyed the first floor of Evangeline’s, Chaussé previously told The Sacramento Bee.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The fire destroyed more than 160 structures and charred 25,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
An additional 1,509 Starlink satellites were launched since May 2019, but have since reentered Earth's atmosphere and been destroyed.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroyed
Adjective
-
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bulldozers and dynamite demolished the modernist mausoleum of Reza Shah, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
That’s going to continue until they are completely demolished.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Resident Dave Levy said his basement continues to be ravaged by floods on and off over the past five years.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One person died after a fire ravaged a Harlem apartment building on Sunday, according to the FDNY.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At least 66 people were killed and several others injured when a military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in Colombia’s Puerto LeguÃzamo, according to an AP report.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The two pilots were killed, the only fatalities, and 40 people were hospitalized.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In San Francisco, the wrecked husk of the Golden Gate Bridge looms in the background as a perpetual reminder that this isn’t quite our history.—
Zaki Hasan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Helicopter footage showed the man darting out from the wrecked Charger in a black T-shirt and white shorts.—
Jacob Beltran,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
When golf-ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds slammed the east coast of Florida in May, Chris Jadin came home to a truck covered in dents and glass all over the floor of his house, his skylight shattered by the falling ice.—
Scott Pham,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fears are growing in the country, already devastated by years of conflict, that Israel may be about to launch a broad invasion of Lebanon's south.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Longtime Joliet resident Kathleen Garthus said other development in the city has left her homeless, and she's devastated to see the pattern continue.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The footage showed tubes with ruptures and other damaged structures that used to be inside the pressure vessel, which originally was enclosed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Crews have carried out emergency lashing operations at the Port of Long Beach to secure damaged containers, using straps, chains and turnbuckles to prevent further shifting, Nieves said.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroyed. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
