destruction

noun

de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce destruction (audio)
1
: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin
scenes of death and destruction
the destruction of their careers
2
: the action or process of destroying something
the destruction of the building
3
: a destroying agency
Alcohol will be his destruction.

Examples of destruction in a Sentence

War results in death and widespread destruction. We are trying to save the building from destruction.
Recent Examples on the Web Those fires are fueling the vicious cycle of ecological destruction that are helping to make grass king. Eric Zerkel, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 There was a lot of destruction and suffering, but World Central Kitchen’s teams were doing an amazing job. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024 There were injuries and people and property destruction and all kinds of madness. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 But after decades of habitat destruction, these handsome insects are now fragmented and locally extinct, holding out in the wettest fens, valleys, and peat bogs of the New Forest and Dorset. Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 The exhilarating recap of the Voice’s ascendancy — the story of the Village newspaper that could — takes a mournful turn as witnesses of the wreckage offer their differing autopsies of a storied alternative weekly’s destruction. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Thursday night's storms left trails of destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Glazer has clearly failed to measure this responsibility, including vis-a-vis the destruction of the European Jews. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Born from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the cafe has been a local favorite since 2006. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'destruction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English destruccioun, from Anglo-French destruction, from Latin destruction-, destructio, from destruere — see destroy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of destruction was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near destruction

Cite this Entry

“Destruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destruction. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

destruction

noun
de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce destruction (audio)
1
: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin
2
: the action or process of destroying something

More from Merriam-Webster on destruction

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