destruction

[dih-struhk-shuh n] /dɪˈstrʌk ʃən/
noun
1.
the act of destroying:
wanton destruction of a town.
2.
the condition of being destroyed; demolition; annihilation.
3.
a cause or means of destroying.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin dēstructiōn- (stem of dēstructiō), equivalent to dēstruct(us) (past participle of dēstruere; see destroy) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
nondestruction, noun
predestruction, noun
semidestruction, noun
Synonyms
1. See ruin.
Examples from the web for destruction
  • Schumpeter was tempted to visit some creative destruction on the book with a blowtorch.
  • But severe earthquakes that cause widespread destruction happen on average once every five years.
  • Today, water is a bigger concern than the wind when it comes to property destruction and loss of life.
  • Hernández throws his hands up in despair when he thinks of the destruction.
  • Yet policies at every level conspire to wreak its destruction.
  • These storms bring destruction ashore in many different ways.
  • But eventually, as the price of petroleum increases, destruction will start to decline.
  • Seeing the destruction so close to my hometown was devastating.
  • Librarians planted the seeds of their own destruction and are responsible for their own downfall.
  • It usually applies to military law or employee-related destruction of property.
British Dictionary definitions for destruction

destruction

/dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
noun
1.
the act of destroying or state of being destroyed; demolition
2.
a cause of ruin or means of destroying
Word Origin
C14: from Latin dēstructiō a pulling down; see destroy
Word Origin and History for destruction
n.

early 14c., from Old French destruction (12c.) and directly from Latin destructionem (nominative destructio) "a pulling down, destruction," from past participle stem of destruere "tear down" (see destroy).

destruction in the Bible

in Job 26:6, 28:22 (Heb. abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead.