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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | destruire, from Latin destruere, from struere 'to build' |
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de‧stroy S2 W2
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used or repaired [↪ destruction] 
companies that are polluting and destroying the environment
companies that are polluting and destroying the environment2 if something destroys someone, it ruins their life completely : The scandal destroyed Simmons and ended his political career.
The scandal destroyed Simmons and ended his political career.3 informal to defeat an opponent easily : The Bears destroyed the Detroit Lions 35-3.
The Bears destroyed the Detroit Lions 35-3.4HBA to kill an animal, especially because it is ill or dangerous : One of the bulls had to be destroyed.
One of the bulls had to be destroyed.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: 
destroy, ruin, spoilDestroy means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it • The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. • The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate. If you ruin or spoil something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features. Ruin is stronger than spoil • The rain ruined my hair. • I don't want to spoil your day.
WORD CHOICE: destroy, ruin, spoilDestroy means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it • The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. • The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate. If you ruin or spoil something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features. Ruin is stronger than spoil • The rain ruined my hair. • I don't want to spoil your day.
