Destory vs. Destroy — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 26, 2024
"Destory" is an incorrect spelling; "destroy" is correct. Destroy: to ruin or demolish completely.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Destory or Destroy
How to spell Destroy?
Destory
Incorrect Spelling
Destroy
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
"Destroy" has the word "toy" in it, which can be broken.
Link "destroy" with "demolish," both having negative meanings.
Think of the word "story"; if it doesn't fit, it's "destroy."
Visualize a destroyed toy to remember the "oy" in "destroy."
The correct word contains "oy," as in "joy" or "boy."
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How Do You Spell Destroy Correctly?
Incorrect: The storm was powerful enough to destory the bridge.
Correct: The storm was powerful enough to destroy the bridge.
Incorrect: We must find a way to destory the harmful chemicals safely.
Correct: We must find a way to destroy the harmful chemicals safely.
Incorrect: The company plans to destory the outdated equipment.
Correct: The company plans to destroy the outdated equipment.
Incorrect: It took years to destory the reputation he built.
Correct: It took years to destroy the reputation he built.
Incorrect: I need to destory the old documents in my office.
Correct: I need to destroy the old documents in my office.
Destroy Definitions
To cause extensive damage or ruin.
Natural disasters can destroy entire communities.
To render useless or ineffective.
That comment destroyed his confidence.
To put an end to; extinguish.
The evidence was destroyed to prevent a trial.
To kill or eradicate.
Pesticides are used to destroy pests.
To break apart the structure of, render physically unusable, or cause to cease to exist as a distinguishable physical entity
The fire destroyed the library. The tumor was destroyed with a laser.
To put an end to; eliminate
“In crowded populations, poverty destroys the possibility of cleanliness” (George Bernard Shaw).
To render useless or ruin
Felt that an overemphasis on theory had destroyed the study of literature.
To put to death; kill
Destroy a rabid dog.
To subdue or defeat completely; crush
The rebel forces were destroyed in battle.
To cause emotional trauma to; devastate
The divorce destroyed him.
To be destructive; cause destruction
“Too much money destroys as surely as too little” (John Simon).
(ambitransitive) To damage beyond use or repair.
The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
Hooligans destroy unprovoked.
(transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
(transitive) To put down or euthanize.
Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
(transitive) To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
To defeat soundly.
To remove data.
The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
To sing a song poorly.
To exhaust duly and thus recreate or build up.
This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.
To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.
To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish.
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves.
To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation.
To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse,By some false guile pervert.
Do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of;
The fire destroyed the house
Destroy completely; damage irreparably;
You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!
The tears ruined her make-up
Defeat soundly;
The home team demolished the visitors
As of animals;
The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid
To break down completely; to demolish.
The building was destroyed in a fire.
Destroy Meaning in a Sentence
The termites have the potential to destroy the wooden structure.
Natural disasters can destroy communities in seconds.
She promised not to destroy the letter he gave her.
The virus can destroy important data on your computer.
The scandal threatened to destroy his career.
Critics say that the new development will destroy the character of the neighborhood.
It's important to destroy old credit cards properly.
Movies often depict aliens coming to Earth to destroy humanity.
Overgrazing can destroy the grassland ecosystem.
Stress can destroy a person's health over time.
Wildfires destroy thousands of acres of forest every year.
Envy and jealousy can destroy relationships.
The army was ordered to destroy the enemy's weapons.
She managed to destroy all evidence of her involvement.
Efforts are being made to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds.
Misunderstandings can destroy friendships if not addressed.
Heavy drinking can destroy a person's liver.
New technology can sometimes destroy old industries.
The demolition team used explosives to destroy the building.
The goal is to destroy the tumor without harming healthy tissue.
Destroy Idioms & Phrases
Destroy the evidence
To get rid of all evidence that could link one to a crime or wrongdoing.
The culprit tried to destroy the evidence by burning the documents.
Leave nothing to destroy
To complete a task or deal with a situation so thoroughly that there is nothing left to do.
The team worked so efficiently they left nothing to destroy.
Self-destroy
To cause one's own downfall or ruin.
Without intervention, he's bound to self-destroy with his reckless behavior.
Destroy your credibility
To act in a way that makes others no longer trust or believe in you.
Lying in court can destroy your credibility as a witness.
Destroy the competition
To outperform competitors to such an extent that they no longer pose a threat.
The new startup aims to destroy the competition with its innovative technology.
Destroy the mood
To do something that ruins the atmosphere or feeling of a moment.
The sudden argument served to destroy the mood of the evening.
Destroy from within
To cause the downfall of a group, organization, or structure by actions taken from inside it.
Corruption at the top levels threatened to destroy the company from within.
Destroy by comparison
To look inferior when compared to something else.
Next to her professional singing, my attempts destroy by comparison.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of destroy?
"Destroy" itself is the base verb.
Why is it called destroy?
"Destroy" comes from the Old French "destruire," meaning to tear down or demolish.
What is the pronunciation of destroy?
It's pronounced as /dɪˈstrɔɪ/.
Which vowel is used before destroy?
The vowel "o" as in "to destroy."
What is the root word of destroy?
The root is the Old French word "destruire."
Is destroy an abstract noun?
No, it's a verb. The act or result can be abstract, but "destruction" would be the related noun.
What is the singular form of destroy?
"Destroy" is a verb and doesn't have a singular or plural form like nouns do.
What is the plural form of destroy?
As a verb, "destroy" doesn't have a plural form.
Is destroy a noun or adjective?
"Destroy" is primarily a verb.
Is destroy a negative or positive word?
"Destroy" generally has a negative connotation.
Is destroy a countable noun?
"Destroy" is not a noun, so it's not countable.
Which preposition is used with destroy?
"By" as in "destroyed by fire."
Which conjunction is used with destroy?
Any conjunction can be used with "destroy" based on context, e.g., "and", "or."
Which article is used with destroy?
"A" or "the" can be used depending on the context, but often "to" as in "to destroy."
Is destroy a collective noun?
No, "destroy" is not a collective noun.
Is the destroy term a metaphor?
"Destroy" isn't inherently metaphorical, but it can be used metaphorically, e.g., "destroy one's hopes."
What is the opposite of destroy?
The opposite is "create" or "build."
What is the first form of destroy?
The first form is "destroy."
Is the word destroy imperative?
It can be used in the imperative mood, e.g., "Destroy the evidence!"
What is another term for destroy?
Another term is "demolish."
What is the third form of destroy?
The third form is also "destroyed."
Is destroy an adverb?
No, "destroy" is not an adverb.
Is destroy a vowel or consonant?
"Destroy" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
How do we divide destroy into syllables?
De-stroy
What is a stressed syllable in destroy?
The second syllable "stroy" is stressed.
What part of speech is destroy?
"Destroy" is a verb.
What is the second form of destroy?
The second form is "destroyed."
How many syllables are in destroy?
There are two syllables in "destroy."
Which determiner is used with destroy?
"This," "that," or "the" can be used depending on context.
How is destroy used in a sentence?
"The hurricane threatened to destroy the coastal village."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
