[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/destroy/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / destroy

# destroy

verb (destroy, destroys, destroyed, destroying)

«destroy» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it is ruined or no longer exists. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#m1)
2. To destroy can mean to completely beat someone in a game (informal). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#m2)
3. To destroy someone's hopes or plans means to end them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories fires, storms, floods and wars destroy houses and forests; villains try to destroy things. In science, habitats can be destroyed by cutting down forests, which harms animals. In everyday life, people safely destroy old papers with personal information. Phrases: «completely destroyed», «destroy evidence», «destroyed by fire».

### Examples

- The fire destroyed the old barn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x1)
- The storm destroyed many homes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x2)
- Cutting down rainforests destroys animals' habitats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x3)
- The dog destroyed my slippers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x4)
- Bacteria are destroyed by boiling water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x5)
- Our team destroyed them 10–0! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x6)
- The news destroyed his hopes of winning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x7)
- Shred old letters to destroy your details. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x8)
- Shall we never be able to destroy him? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/#x9)

### Note

Regular: destroyed, destroying (keep y after a vowel). Noun: destruction. Adjective: destructive. «Destroy» is stronger than «damage»: damaged things can be fixed; destroyed things usually cannot.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it is often God (or Israel, at His command) who destroys, as a punishment or to clear a land of wickedness; Abraham pleads that God not destroy Sodom.

**Interpretation.** Tradition notes Abraham's bargaining over Sodom as a model of pleading for mercy and justice, since the judge of all the earth must do justice.

### Examples

- And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. (Torah NUM.24.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x1)
- Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.' (Torah GEN.18.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x2)
- Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.' (Torah GEN.18.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x3)
- They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them; (Writings PSA.106.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x4)
- The LORD said unto me: Go up against this land, destroy it.' (Prophets 2KI.18.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x5)
- Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? (Writings ECC.7.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/#x6)

### Note

Regular: destroyed, destroying (keep y after a vowel). Noun: destruction. Adjective: destructive. «Destroy» is stronger than «damage»: damaged things can be fixed; destroyed things usually cannot.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «destroy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destroy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«destroy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/destroy.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «destroy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/destroy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«destroy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/destroy.html) on Mova free.