Destroy
Verb
UK
/dɪˈstrɔɪ/
US
/dɪˈstrɔɪ/
Definition
To completely damage or ruin something.
Example
"The fire destroyed homes."
"Strong winds destroyed the roof of the old house during the powerful storm."
"His careless behaviour destroyed the trust his colleagues had placed in him for years."
Explanation
Destroy means to break, damage, or ruin something so badly that it cannot be used anymore. It can describe physical things, like destroying a building in a fire, or non-physical things, like destroying someone’s trust or destroying hopes. For example, a storm can destroy houses, or careless words can destroy a relationship. Destroy usually has a very strong meaning, showing complete damage. It is different from simply hurting or changing: when you destroy something, it no longer works or exists as it was before.