French word

détruire

Pronunciation

IPA/detʁɥiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdestroy

Example

Le feu a détruit le bâtiment.

The fire destroyed the building.

Illustration for détruire (destroy)

More examples

La critique a détruit sa confiance.

The criticism destroyed his confidence.

Core concept

A solid object is torn apart until its structure collapses and it can no longer serve its purpose.

Common phrases

  • détruire la réputation

    destroy one's reputation

  • détruire l'environnement

    destroy the environment

  • détruire des documents

    destroy documents

Similar words

casser: Break something by bending, snapping, or splitting it.
abîmer: Spoil an object's appearance or make it less useful.
démolir: Demolish a building or other structure completely.

Definition in French

Rendre quelque chose complètement inutilisable en détruisant sa structure ou sa forme.

Word origin

French détruire comes through Old French destruire from Latin dēstruere, built from dē- 'down' and struere 'build'.

Usage tips

  • Détruire expresses complete destruction, while casser usually means breaking and abîmer usually means damaging without total loss.

Other meanings

  • ruinverb
  • annihilateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • destructiondestructionnoun
  • destructibledestructibleadjective

Word lists with this word