Synonyms for destruction
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Annihilation
annihilation, extirpation, eradication, death, extinction, extermination, end, perdition, downfall, doom, elimination, fate, dissolution, abolition, extinguishment, excision, fall
2. Demolition
demolition, desolation, havoc, overthrow, ravage, ruin, wreck, undoing, subversion, mischief, wipe out, waste rare, bane dated
3. Devastation
Other
loss, blight, vandalism, sacrifice, disorganization US, disorganisation UK, confusion, shipwreck, consumption
Definitions
- n. 1
The act of destroying.
The destruction of the condemned building will take place at noon.
- n. 2
The results of a destructive event.
Amid the seemingly endless destruction, a single flower bloomed.
- n. 3
A group of feral cats.
Related words
- Word family
- destroy
Forms
- Plural
- destructions → annihilations, extirpations, eradications, deaths…
Example sentences
- extinction Many shark species are threatened with extinction.
- annihilation Karl saved the world from nuclear annihilation.
- demolition All demolition charges have been deactivated.
- desolation The desolation left in his wake is staggering.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| destruction | steady | |
| extinction | steady | |
| annihilation | steady | |
| eradication | falling | |
| extirpation | falling | |
| demolition | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- end1
- 4 letters
- fall1, loss1, fate1, ruin2, doom1, bane1
- 5 letters
- death1, waste1, wreck1, havoc2
- 6 letters
- murder2, blight1, ravage2
- 7 letters
- killing2, undoing3, pillage2
- 8 letters
- massacre3, downfall2, mischief2, excision3
- 9 letters
- sacrifice3, confusion3, slaughter2, overthrow3, abolition4, vandalism4, shipwreck2, perdition, ruination
- 10 letters
- extinction3, demolition4, desolation4, subversion3, spoliation
- 11 letters
- consumption3, elimination5, dissolution4, devastation4, eradication5, extirpation
- 12 letters
- annihilation5
- 13 letters
- extermination5
- 14 letters
- extinguishment4
- 15 letters
- disorganization6, disorganisation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (ruin2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- destruction
- Italiano
- distruzione
- Español
- destrucción
- Deutsch
- Vernichtung
- Català
- destrucció