destroy

Verb

1. To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.
   • The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
   • Hooligans destroy unprovoked.
   • Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Destroy this temple, and in three dayes I will raise it vp. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 2:19:
2. To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
   • Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
3. To put down or euthanize.
   • Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
4. To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
   • Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
   • Other girls in the foster home are eager to destroy her and get her kicked out of the place. It's a tough situation. - 2005, Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide:
5. To utterly defeat; to crush.
   • Remember when Germany destroyed Brazil 7–1 in the World Cup?
   • Growing up, [Kevin] Durant told me, he was a sore loser. That all changed one day when he was 11, after he got destroyed by his father in a game of one on one in the driveway. - 2012 November 11, Sam Anderson, “The...
6. To remove data.
   • The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
7. To exhaust completely and thus recreate or build up.
   • This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.
8. To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
   • She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.
9. To sing a song extremely poorly.
   • JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic! - 2001, Jeff Nathanson, Rush Hour 2, New Line Cinema:
10. To eat food quickly, hungrily or completely.
    • I could destroy some wings right now.