Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause the deliberate destruction or termination of something, especially a device or system, often for safety or operational reasons.
   • To do away with or cause the complete ruin of something.

Usage

The verb "destruct" is primarily used in technical, military, or formal contexts. It often implies a controlled, intentional, or self-inflicted act of destruction to prevent greater harm or to fulfill a procedural requirement. It is less commonly used for general destruction than its synonym "destroy."

Examples

• Verb:
  • The flight controller issued the command to destruct the malfunctioning satellite.
  • For safety, the rocket's onboard system is programmed to destruct if it veers off course.
  • The engineers had to destruct the prototype after the failed test.

Advanced Usage

• Self-destruct: Refers to a built-in mechanism or function that causes a device to destroy itself automatically.
  • The secret message will self-destruct ten seconds after being read.
  • The spy's car was equipped with a self-destruct mechanism.

Variants and Related Words

• Destruction (n): The act or process of destroying something; the state of being destroyed.
  • The storm left a trail of destruction.
• Destructive (adj): Causing great and irreparable damage.
  • The hurricane had a destructive impact on the coastal town.
• Self-destruct (v): To destroy itself or oneself automatically.

Synonyms

• Destroy: To damage something so severely that it no longer exists or functions. (More general and common than "destruct").
• Demolish: To completely destroy a building or structure.
• Annihilate: To destroy completely, leaving no trace.

Phrasal Verbs

(Not commonly used with "destruct")

Related Idioms

• "Destruct sequence": A series of commands or steps initiated to cause deliberate destruction.
  • The captain activated the destruct sequence to prevent the ship from falling into enemy hands.

Verb

1. do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
   • The fire destroyed the house
2. destroy (one's own missile or rocket)
   • The engineers had to destruct the rocket for safety reasons