destroy

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
  2. verb destroy completely; damage irreparably
  3. verb defeat soundly

Etymology

From Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“to build”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

destruct

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