destruction Hear it!

destruction definition

de·struc·tion (di struk′s̸hən)

noun

  1. the act or process of destroying; demolition or slaughter
  2. the fact or state of being destroyed
  3. the cause or means of destroying

Etymology: ME destruccioun < OFr destruction < L destructio < destructus, pp. of destruere: see destroy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

destruction Synonyms

destruction

n.

  1. The act of destroying

    demolition, demolishing, ruin, ruining, wrecking, tearing down, razing, leveling, annihilation, devastation, holocaust, eradication, obliteration, slaying, slaughter, carnage, liquidation, extirpation, overthrow, subversion, extermination, elimination, ravaging, consumption, abolition, murder, assassination, killing, disruption, bombardment, burning, dynamiting, laying waste, tearing apart, disintegration, extinction, ravagement, wreckage, subjugation, despoiling, depredation, dissolution, butchery, sabotage, subverting, ravaging, pillaging, plundering, despoliation, sacking, vandalism, subjugation, crushing, dissolving, invalidating, extinguishing, overthrowing, collision, crashing, falling, felling, dismantling, gutting, defacing, shattering, smashing, trampling, knocking down, stamping out, wiping out, sack, rack and ruin, crack of doom*; see also carnage, wreck 1.

    Antonyms production*, formation*, erection. *

  2. The condition after destruction

    ruin, waste, ashes, wreck, annihilation, devastation, havoc, vestiges, desolation, ruins, overthrow, decay, dilapidation, disintegration, loss, bane, blight, remains, remnants, prostration, injury, impairment, ravage, downfall, end, bankruptcy, starvation, plague, shipwreck, dissolution, removal, sacrifice, disorganization, immolation; see also damage 2.

    Antonyms restoration*, renovation*, renewal.

destruction implies annihilation or demolition, as by fire, explosion, flood, etc. the destruction of the village in an air raid; ruin implies a state of decay, disintegration, etc. especially through such natural processes as age and weather the barn is in a state of ruin; havoc suggests total destruction or devastation, as following an earthquake or hurricane the storm wreaked havoc along the coast; dilapidation implies a state of ruin or shabbiness resulting from neglect the dilapidation of a deserted house


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

destruction Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • rainforest: Of course the single biggest loss of habitat is the destruction of the rainforests.

Converse of object

  • wreak: Below is a famous reconstructed map of what Shoreham is meant to have looked like before the sea wreaked such destruction.

Adjective modifier

  • mass: Who makes weapons of mass destruction: UK, USA.

Noun used with modifier

  • rainforest: In April we launched our campaign exposing the food retailer's role in rainforest destruction.
destruction usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

destruction quotes

It must be soöPlato, thou reason'st well!ö Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality? Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror, Of falling into naught? Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction 'Tis the divinity that stirs within us; 'Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man. Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought!

-Addison,Joseph

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.

-Bible (Old Testament)

Bless the L,O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the L,O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies;Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

-Bible (Old Testament)

destruction quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"destruction." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/destruction>

APA Style

destruction. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/destruction

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment