destroy

/dis'trɔi/

Thân thiện

The fire destroyed the house.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause something to cease to exist or function; to damage something so severely that it cannot be repaired or used. This is the core meaning, involving complete damage or termination.
   • To kill an animal, especially for reasons of mercy, safety, or control. This is a specific, often official, application.
   • To defeat an opponent utterly or decisively. Used in competitive contexts like sports or arguments.

Usage and Examples

• To damage beyond repair:
  • The hurricane destroyed the entire coastal village.
  • A virus can destroy important files on your computer.
• To kill (an animal):
  • The injured horse had to be destroyed by the veterinarian.
• To defeat completely:
  • Our team destroyed their rivals with a score of 10-0.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Destroy" vs. "Damage": "Destroy" implies a final, irreparable state, whereas "damage" suggests harm that might be repaired.
  • The fire destroyed the building. (It is gone.)
  • The fire damaged the building. (It is harmed but may be fixed.)
• Emphatic or figurative use: Often used hyperbolically in informal contexts.
  • That criticism completely destroyed my confidence. (Figuratively devastated.)
  • I'm going to destroy you in this chess game. (Figuratively defeat utterly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Destroyer (n): 1. A person or thing that destroys. 2. A type of fast warship.
  • The locusts were destroyers of the crop.
• Destructible (adj): Capable of being destroyed.
  • Many materials are not easily destructible.
• Indestructible (adj): Impossible to destroy.
  • The toy was marketed as being virtually indestructible.

Synonyms

• Demolish: To pull or knock down (a building); to decisively defeat.
• Annihilate: To destroy completely, leaving no trace; often used in military or cosmic contexts.
• Ruin: To severely damage or spoil, often leading to a state of decay or collapse.
• Wreck: To destroy or severely damage, especially a structure or vehicle.
• Obliterate: To remove all signs of something; to destroy utterly.

Phrasal Verbs

• Destroy itself: Refers to something causing its own end or failure.
  • The regime eventually destroyed itself through corruption and infighting.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Destroy the evidence: To get rid of something that could prove wrongdoing.
  • The thieves tried to destroy the evidence by burning the documents.
• A face to destroy clocks: A humorous, informal idiom meaning an extremely unattractive face.
  • (Idiomatic, informal) He's got a face to destroy clocks—so ugly it would stop time.

Học thuật

Verb

1. put (an animal) to death
   • The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid
   • the sick cat had to be put down
2. defeat soundly
   • The home team demolished the visitors
3. destroy completely; damage irreparably
   • You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!
   • The tears ruined her make-up
4. do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
   • The fire destroyed the house

Từ đồng nghĩa

• put down
• demolish
• ruin
• destruct