destroy in English
- destroy⇄adv. destroyingly.
- destroy⇄destroy, transitive verb.
1. to break to pieces; make useless; spoil; ruin.
Ex. Careless children destroy all their toys. Drought destroyed the corn crop.
2. to put an end to; do away with.
Ex. A heavy rain destroyed all hope of a - destroy⇄v.i. to be destructive; destroy things.
destroy in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
destroy in Kashmiri कॉशुर
destroy in Sindhi سنڌي
destroy in Tamil தமிழ்
Destroy
Part of Speech
Verb
Pronunciation
/dɪˈstrɔɪ/
Definitions
- To damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.
- To ruin or put an end to something.
- To defeat someone completely in a competition or conflict.
Usage Examples
- The earthquake destroyed many buildings in the city.
- The scandal destroyed his career.
- Our team destroyed the opposition in the final match.
Etymology
From Old French destruire, from Latin destruere, meaning "to unbuild" or "tear down," composed of de- (down) and struere (to build).
Synonyms
- Demolish
- Wreck
- Obliterate
- Annihilate
- Devastate
Antonyms
- Build
- Create
- Construct
- Repair
- Preserve
Translations
Major Global Languages
| Language | Translations | Pronunciations |
|---|---|---|
| French | Détruire | /detʁɥiʁ/ |
| Spanish | Destruir | /desˈtɾwiɾ/ |
| German | Zerstören | /tsɛʁˈʃtøːʁən/ |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 摧毁 | /cuī huǐ/ |
| Russian | Уничтожить | /ʊnʲɪt͡ɕˈtoʐɨtʲ/ |
Indian Languages
| Language | Translations | Pronunciations |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | नष्ट करना | /naṣṭ karnā/ |
| Telugu | ధ్వంసం చేయు | /dhvaṁsaṁ cēyu/ |
| Tamil | அழித்தல் | /aḻiththal/ |
| Kannada | ನಾಶ ಮಾಡು | /nāśa māḍu/ |
| Bengali | ধ্বংস করা | /dhbôŋsô kôra/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- British English: /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
- American English: /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
- Indian English: /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
- Australian English: /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
Historical Usage
The word "destroy" has been used in English since the Middle Ages, often referring to physical damage in early texts. Over time, its meaning expanded to cover abstract and emotional forms of destruction.
Cultural Nuances
In literature and religion, destruction is often symbolic of transformation or divine intervention. The term can also have political or environmental implications in modern discourse.
More Information
Destruction can refer to both physical and non-physical forms of damage. It plays a key role in many philosophical and religious concepts, including the cycles of creation and destruction in Hinduism and the symbolism of apocalypse in Christian eschatology. Modern usage extends to digital data destruction and psychological breakdowns.