destroying
Reducing to rubble
Destroying is the act of ruining something completely—ending its existence or usefulness.
Buildings are destroyed by fire, documents by shredding, reputations by scandal.
The word emphasizes totality: what's destroyed cannot easily be restored.
In casual speech, destroying can mean defeating decisively: Our team is destroying them right now.
Defeat thoroughly in conflict
- conquerOvercome by force
- crushCompress with force
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
trounce · subdue · overthrow · rout · subjugate · overpower · decimate · dominate
Demolish using heavy equipment
- razeDestroy completely
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
- dismantleSeparate into parts
- toppleCause to fall
smash · shatter · implode · dynamite · sledgehammer · wrecking ball · jackhammer · excavator
Destroy thoroughly and completely
- ravageCause severe destruction
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
- desolateBleak and abandoned
- lay wasteDestroy completely
despoil · pillage · ransack · plunder · sack · gut · blight · mar
vanquish
Defeat thoroughly in conflict
- conquerOvercome by force
- crushCompress with force
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
overwhelm · trounce · subdue · overthrow · rout · subjugate · overpower · decimate · dominate · thrash
bulldoze
Demolish using heavy equipment
topple · smash · shatter · implode · dynamite · sledgehammer · wrecking ball · jackhammer · excavator · teardown
devastate
Destroy thoroughly and completely
lay waste · despoil · pillage · ransack · plunder · sack · gut · blight · mar · disfigure
exterminate
Destroy completely, every one
abolish · expunge · extirpate · uproot · stamp out · root out · quash · liquidate · efface · cleanse
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
decompose · disintegrate · erode · wither · degrade · rust · molder · fester · putrefy · spoil
- eliminatingeliminating, eradicating, wiping out, exterminating, abolishing
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- actionsrun, walk, jump, move, push
- destructiondemolishing, devastation, ruination, obliteration, annihilation
- pest behaviorbiting, chewing, gnawing, burrowing, infesting
- Beatdownsbeatdown, drubbing, thrashing, trouncing, blowout
destroyingcreating
Making something new
building · constructing · making · generating · erecting
destroyingpreserving
Protecting from deterioration
conserving · protecting · saving · safeguarding · maintaining
- destroying evidenceEliminating incriminating materials
- destroying angelsDeadly white mushroom species
destroy, destroyed, destruction, destructive, destroyer, destroys, indestructible, destroyers, destructively