To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it can no longer be used, recognized, or repaired. It can refer to physical objects, systems, or even feelings and hopes.
From Old French "destruire" and Latin "destruere" meaning "to tear down" or "demolish," formed from "de-" (un-, down) and "struere" (to build). The word literally means to "un-build."
Destroy is the flip side of "construct"—both share the root about building. When you destroy something, you’re not just breaking it; you’re undoing the structure that once held it together.
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