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To ruin completely; spoil: The ancient manuscripts were destroyed by fire.
(verb-transitive)
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To tear down or break up; demolish. See Synonyms at ruin.
(verb-transitive)
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To do away with; put an end to: "In crowded populations, poverty destroys the possibility of cleanliness” ( George Bernard Shaw).
(verb-transitive)
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To kill: destroy a rabid dog.
(verb-transitive)
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To subdue or defeat completely; crush: The rebel forces were destroyed in battle.
(verb-transitive)
American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.