Distroy vs. Destroy — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 25, 2024
"Distroy" is an incorrect spelling. "Destroy" is the correct form, meaning to cause the end or ruin of something.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Distroy or Destroy
How to spell Destroy?
Distroy
Incorrect Spelling
Destroy
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
“Distroy” contains “distract,” but you don’t want to be distracted from the right spelling.
Note that “destroy” rhymes with “enjoy.”
Think of the word “destruction,” which clearly starts with “destr.”
Remember that “destroy” and “toy” both end with a "y."
Visualize a toy being broken as you say “de-stroy.”
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How Do You Spell Destroy Correctly?
Incorrect: Pollution threatens to distroy the natural habitat.
Correct: Pollution threatens to destroy the natural habitat.
Incorrect: The fire did not distroy the ancient manuscript.
Correct: The fire did not destroy the ancient manuscript.
Incorrect: The hurricane could distroy the coastal homes.
Correct: The hurricane could destroy the coastal homes.
Incorrect: He plans to distroy the old documents.
Correct: He plans to destroy the old documents.
Incorrect: We must find a way to distroy the virus.
Correct: We must find a way to destroy the virus.
Destroy Definitions
To damage something beyond repair.
The fire destroyed the documents.
To eliminate or get rid of.
The pest control company came to destroy the termites.
To nullify or invalidate.
One strong counterargument can destroy a weak claim.
To defeat someone completely.
The reigning champion was destroyed by the newcomer.
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 put an end to the existence of something.
The hurricane destroyed several homes.
Destroy Meaning in a Sentence
The company plans to destroy all outdated files.
Scientists are working on a way to destroy harmful bacteria in water.
Time and neglect can destroy even the most solid structures.
A single mistake could destroy their chances of winning.
Overfishing could destroy the marine ecosystem.
She was afraid the news would destroy her friend.
Pests can destroy crops if not properly managed.
The demolition team will destroy the abandoned building.
She vowed to destroy the letter after reading it.
He managed to destroy all evidence of his involvement.
Toxins in the water can destroy aquatic life.
The goal of the game is to destroy the enemy's base.
Misunderstandings can destroy relationships if not addressed.
Wildfires destroy thousands of acres of forest each year.
The storm is expected to destroy power lines and trees.
The termites have the potential to destroy the wooden structure.
Efforts to destroy the old prejudices are ongoing.
They aim to destroy the old stereotypes.
The heat was enough to destroy the virus on the surfaces.
The scandal threatened to destroy his career.
Efforts are made to destroy invasive species in the national park.
The computer virus can destroy your files without warning.
Destroy Idioms & Phrases
Self-destroy
To cause one's own downfall or ruin.
His refusal to listen to advice led him to self-destroy.
Destroy one's credibility
To ruin someone's reputation and trustworthiness.
The leaked emails served to destroy his credibility as a journalist.
Destroy at all costs
To get rid of something or someone no matter what the expense or effort required.
The government was determined to destroy the threat at all costs.
Destroy someone's hopes
To completely eliminate any possibility of someone's desires or ambitions being fulfilled.
The final exam scores destroyed her hopes of getting into her first-choice college.
Destroy the evidence
To get rid of all traces of something, often to avoid detection or blame.
The culprit tried to destroy the evidence by burning the documents.
Destroy the competition
To outperform competitors to such an extent that they are no longer considered a threat.
The new tech startup aims to destroy the competition with its innovative product.
Destroy by fire
To burn something so that it is completely ruined or consumed.
The documents were securely destroyed by fire to prevent any leakage of sensitive information.
Destroy from within
To cause the breakdown or failure of a group, organization, or structure by actions or elements from inside.
Corruption can destroy a company from within more effectively than competition from the outside.
Destroy the peace
To disrupt harmony or calmness in a particular situation or environment.
The sudden loud noise destroyed the peace of the quiet afternoon.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Destroy?
/dɪˈstrɔɪ/.
Which conjunction is used with Destroy?
Any conjunction can be used, based on sentence structure.
Why is it called Destroy?
The term "destroy" comes from the Old French word "destruire," which means to dismantle or ruin.
What is the root word of Destroy?
Derived from Latin "destruere" which means "to tear down."
What is the verb form of Destroy?
"Destroy" is the base form of the verb.
Which vowel is used before Destroy?
The vowel "o" can precede it, as in "to destroy."
Is Destroy a noun or adjective?
It's a verb.
Is Destroy an adverb?
No.
Which preposition is used with Destroy?
"by" as in "destroyed by fire."
Which article is used with Destroy?
"the" can be used, depending on context.
Is Destroy a vowel or consonant?
It's a word containing both vowels and consonants.
What is a stressed syllable in Destroy?
"stroy."
What is another term for Destroy?
Demolish.
What is the opposite of Destroy?
Create or build.
What is the singular form of Destroy?
"Destroy" as it is a verb.
What is the plural form of Destroy?
Not applicable, "destroy" is a verb.
Is the word “Destroy” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Destroy" is a verb; it can take a direct object but is not one itself.
How do we divide Destroy into syllables?
De-stroy.
Is Destroy a collective noun?
No.
Is Destroy a countable noun?
"Destroy" isn't used as a noun.
Is the word Destroy imperative?
It can be, e.g., "Destroy the evidence!"
Is the word Destroy a gerund?
No, but "destroying" is its gerund form.
Which determiner is used with Destroy?
"this" as in "this destroyed city."
What is the third form of Destroy?
Destroyed.
How is Destroy used in a sentence?
"The invaders aimed to destroy the city's defenses."
Is Destroy an abstract noun?
No.
Is Destroy a negative or positive word?
Generally negative.
Is the Destroy term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
How many syllables are in Destroy?
Two.
What part of speech is Destroy?
Verb.
What is the first form of Destroy?
Destroy.
What is the second form of Destroy?
Destroyed.
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Written 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.
