destroy
Translation
to destroy, to ruin, to demolish
Examples
The earthquake destroyed many buildings.
The earthquake destroyed many buildings.
The bad news destroyed his hopes.
The bad news destroyed his hopes.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to damage sth. so badly that it cannot be used or no longer exists The earthquake destroyed many buildings.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ruin, demolish, wreck; Antonyms: create, build, construct
Etymology
From Latin 'de-' (down) + 'struere' (to build). The literal meaning is 'to un-build'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'de-structure' – to take apart a structure, to break it down completely.