ENGLISH
REFERENCE

destroyed

adj.
US //dɪˈstɹɔɪd// UK //dɪstɹˈɔɪd// de·stroyed
  1. 1 ruined or broken (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    damaged so badly that it cannot be fixed or used anymore.

    rendered useless or non-existent through physical damage or total ruin.

    Example

    The old bridge was completely destroyed by the heavy floods last winter.

    Example

    The historic archives were destroyed in the fire, leaving historians with no primary records of the town's founding era.
  2. 2 very upset (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    feeling extremely sad or shocked because of bad news.

    experiencing extreme emotional distress or psychological devastation.

    Example

    She was destroyed when she heard that her favorite shop was closing down.

    Example

    The family was utterly destroyed by the sudden news, struggling to process the magnitude of their loss in the following weeks.
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  1. 3 very tired (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    feeling completely exhausted after a lot of hard work.

    physically or mentally exhausted to the point of collapse.

    Example

    I was absolutely destroyed after running my first marathon.

    Example

    After forty-eight hours of continuous duty, the medical staff were destroyed and desperately needed a period of uninterrupted rest.
  2. 4 dirty or soiled (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Dialect Informal

    covered in mud or dirt, usually after a fall.

    heavily soiled or muddied, typically used in reference to clothing or children.

    Example

    The kids came home destroyed after playing in the wet garden all afternoon.

    Example

    He tripped in the bog and came back to the cottage destroyed, with mud caked into every fiber of his wool coat.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is specific to Irish English; learners should use 'filthy' or 'covered in mud' in other regions.

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