destroy: meaning and words from its letters
7 letters · 11 letter points · starts with D · ends with Y
Meaning of destroy
verb
- ambitransitive
To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist.
Example: The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
- transitive
To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
Example: Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
- transitive
To put down or euthanize.
Example: Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
- transitive
To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
Example: Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
Listed forms: destroys, destroying, destroyed.
Source: Wiktionary — destroy.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for destroy.
verb
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
verb
destroy completely; damage irreparably
verb
defeat soundly and humiliatingly
verb
put (an animal) to death
- put down
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is destroy in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of destroy
D(2) + E(1) + S(1) + T(1) + R(1) + O(1) + Y(4) = 11 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of destroy
1 other standard-list word uses exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
Shorter words from destroy
125 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in destroy. Showing up to 24, longest first.