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destruction

noun
de·​struc·​tion | \ di-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce destruction (audio) \

Definition of destruction

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.
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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

 The powerful storm’s sluggish pace ensured steady, brutal destruction. — Elisabeth Malkinand Frances Robles, BostonGlobe.com, "In Bahamas, rescue efforts crippled in ‘crisis of epic proportions’," 3 Sep. 2019 The group says habitat destruction, dams and overharvest have far greater impacts. — Keith Ridler, The Seattle Times, "New plan targets salmon-eating sea lions in Columbia River," 2 Sep. 2019 No matter the name on the jersey, there is a tendency for self-destruction and, at times, for sheer, bloody-minded stupidity encoded deep in the DNA of the club. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "At Arsenal, Rewriting the Story May Take a Bit More Time," 1 Sep. 2019 The destruction upset residents, as did the loss of income from selling permits to gun-wielding tourists. — The Economist, "The battle of Botswana’s big men," 29 Aug. 2019 But after years of progress to slow its destruction, deforestation is now accelerating, fueling more fires. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Who's Burning the Amazon? Rampant Capitalism," 28 Aug. 2019 Our obsession with wealth and power has turned out to be the path to destruction, of our habitat and ourselves. — Astra Taylor, The New Republic, "One for All," 26 Aug. 2019 The hymn’s uplifting melody provides a poignant contrast to the haunting imagery in Mutu’s video, which hints at self-destruction as a means of escape from an intolerable reality. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "An urgent look at 400 years of history: ‘Black Atlantic’ exhibit in Oberlin explores impact of slavery," 25 Aug. 2019 Perhaps compounding those feelings is the knowledge that the destruction of the Amazon, and the issues of deforestation and fires in the rain forest, are not new. — Mahita Gajanan, Time, "Environmentalists Have Been Warning About Amazon Fires for Decades. The Stakes Are Now Higher Than Ever," 23 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'destruction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of destruction

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for destruction

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

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More Definitions for destruction

destruction

noun
How to pronounce destruction (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of destruction

: the act or process of damaging something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired : the act or process of destroying something

See the full definition for destruction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

destruction

noun
de·​struc·​tion | \ di-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce destruction (audio) \

Kids Definition of destruction

1 : the act or process of killing, ruining, or putting an end to something Destruction of the old building is underway.
2 : the state or fact of being killed, ruined, or brought to an end Destruction of the animal's habitat nearly caused its extinction.

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