If you destroy something, you cause so much damage to it that it can no longer be used or it no longer exists.
If someone or something prevents an experience from being enjoyable, don't say that they 'destroy' the experience. You say that they spoil it or ruin it.
Imperative |
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ruin |
ruin |
Noun | 1. | ![]() desolation, devastation - the state of being decayed or destroyed |
2. | ruin - a ruined building; "they explored several Roman ruins" | |
3. | ruin - the process of becoming dilapidated decay - the process of gradually becoming inferior | |
4. | ruin - an event that results in destruction demolition, wipeout, destruction - an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something devastation, desolation - an event that results in total destruction shipwreck - an irretrievable loss; "that was the shipwreck of their romance" | |
5. | ![]() failure - an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; "the surprise party was a complete failure" finish - the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict); "booze will be the finish of him"; "it was a fight to the finish" | |
6. | ![]() destruction, devastation - the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists | |
Verb | 1. | ruin - destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up" devastate, lay waste to, ravage, scourge, desolate, waste - cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion" break - find a flaw in; "break an alibi"; "break down a proof" do a job on - destroy completely or make ugly or useless; "The dog did a job on my pillow"; "The seamstress did a job on my wedding gown" subvert - destroy completely; "we must not let our civil liberties be subverted by the current crisis" get - overcome or destroy; "The ice storm got my hibiscus"; "the cat got the goldfish" devour - destroy completely; "Fire had devoured our home" despoil, plunder, violate, spoil - destroy and strip of its possession; "The soldiers raped the beautiful country" explode - destroy by exploding; "The enemy exploded the bridge" consume - destroy completely; "The fire consumed the building" shipwreck - destroy a ship; "The vessel was shipwrecked" wash out - wear or destroy by the force of water; "The hail storms had washed out the bridges" |
2. | ruin - destroy or cause to fail; "This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election" frustrate, scotch, thwart, foil, baffle, bilk, cross, spoil - hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent" undo - cause the ruin or downfall of; "A single mistake undid the President and he had to resign" break - cause the failure or ruin of; "His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage"; "This play will either make or break the playwright" shipwreck - ruin utterly; "You have shipwrecked my career" | |
3. | ![]() impoverish - make poor | |
4. | ruin - reduce to ruins; "The country lay ruined after the war" | |
5. | ruin - deprive of virginity; "This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village" | |
6. | ruin - fall into ruin |