ENGLISH
REFERENCE

destroyed

v.
A2 Elementary US //dɪˈstɹɔɪd// UK //dɪstɹˈɔɪd// de·stroyed Informal

v. to damage something so badly that it cannot be used or fixed anymore. You use this when something is completely ruined.

v. to damage an object or system so severely that it ceases to exist or cannot be restored to its functional state. Often used in the passive voice to describe the result of a catastrophic event.


SIMPLE

The fire destroyed the old wooden house.

CONTEXTUAL

Heavy rains and strong winds destroyed the crops just weeks before the harvest was due.

COMPLEX

The archaeological site was almost entirely destroyed by centuries of erosion and illegal excavations, leaving very little for modern researchers to study.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Pitfall

The building was destroy by the storm.The building was destroyed by the storm.When used in the passive voice to describe a state or result, the past participle 'destroyed' must be used.

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