1
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the violent storm resulted in the destruction of their tree house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
alcohol will be her destruction if we don't intervene to help her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destruction
While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.
—
Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Oil and gas prices have surged since the war in Iran began, thanks to the destruction and closure of energy infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The wide scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The flooding along the Sturgeon River left a path of destruction, with many families now facing difficult and uncertain rebuilds.
—Terrance Friday, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Oil and gas prices have surged since the war in Iran began, thanks to the destruction and closure of energy infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The wide scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The flooding along the Sturgeon River left a path of destruction, with many families now facing difficult and uncertain rebuilds.
—Terrance Friday, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destruction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destruction
Noun
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Despite the devastation, the family has received an outpouring of support from the community, something Jackeline Madrid said reflects who her father was.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the two years following Hurricane Maria's devastation in Puerto Rico in 2017, overdose reports increased, another study found.—
Andrew Jones,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Now, 34 years later and a registered nurse, the downfall of the hospital is heartbreaking for her.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The manic, madcap, chaotic and silly stunt show was heavy on exposition to the delight of the fans who cheered the entrance of every One Piece character and laughed at the downfall of paper-thin goon.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If there’s trust on the back end, James can move up closer to the line of scrimmage to make plays and wreak havoc.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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For Trudeau, this week’s wildfires are yet another sign that climate change is wreaking havoc on natural ecosystems and increasing fire activity across the country, including in historically humid landscapes.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The only thing that would satisfy the gremlin in me is the ruination of my freedom.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since the demolition began, Democrats have mostly used the ballroom project as a political piñata.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Phase three of demolition includes the Kohl’s parcel.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Aoun’s confirmation of their deaths comes after the agency earlier reported that the three were trapped beneath rubble.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Based on preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, more than 110,000 crashes in 2025 resulted from unsafe speeds, leading to more than 400 deaths and injuring more than 68,000 people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bald eagles have made a strong recovery in Michigan, growing from the edge of extinction with just 52 breeding pairs in the 1960s to about 900 pairs by 2023, Bridge Michigan reported.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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By the early 1940s, it was gone, widely recognized as the first butterfly in North America driven to extinction by human activity.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Toothaker's good fortune was part of Koo's undoing.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Was her blindside of Charlie her ultimate undoing in the game?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destruction. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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