destroy

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“I build”). Displaced native shend (“destroy, injure”).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /dɪˈstɹɔɪ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔɪ
  • Hyphenation: de‧stroy

Verb[edit]

destroy (third-person singular simple present destroys, present participle destroying, simple past and past participle destroyed)

  2. (transitive, intransitive) To damage beyond use or repair.
    The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
    Hooligans destroy unprovoked.
  3. (transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
    Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
  4. (transitive) To put down or euthanize.
    Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
  5. (transitive) To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
    Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
    • 2005, Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide:
      Other girls in the foster home are eager to destroy her and get her kicked out of the place. It's a tough situation.
  6. (colloquial, transitive, hyperbolic) To defeat soundly.
  7. (computing, transitive) To remove data.
    The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
  8. (US, colloquial, slang) To sing a song poorly.
    • 2001, Jeff Nathanson, Rush Hour 2‎[1], New Line Cinema:
      JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic!
  9. (bodybuilding, slang, antiphrasis) To exhaust duly and thus recreate or build up.
    This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.
  10. (slang, vulgar) To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
    She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.

Synonyms[edit]

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Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Anagrams[edit]

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