Destruction

Process of causing damage or complete loss.

demolition damage

Destruction refers to the process of causing damage, ruin, or the complete loss of something. It can occur naturally through disasters like earthquakes and wildfires, or be human-induced through actions such as warfare, demolition, or environmental degradation.

Etymology

Destruction comes from the Old French word 'destruccion,' meaning 'ruin, overthrow,' derived from Latin 'instructus' (past participle of instruere), meaning 'to build up, to arrange, to instruct,' which ultimately means 'to ruin or demolish.'

Explain Like I’m 5

Destruction is when something breaks or disappears completely, like a building falling down or a cookie being eaten.

Fun Facts

The word 'destruction' comes from the Latin word 'destructio', meaning 'a breaking down'
Demolition is a controlled form of destruction
Natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes cause widespread destruction

FAQ

What does destruction mean? It means causing damage or complete loss
Can destruction be natural? Yes, like a hurricane destroying buildings
Is destruction always bad? Not necessarily
controlled demolition destroys old structures to make way for new ones

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

Damage Ruin Loss

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

Demolition Devastation Annihilation

Indexes

destructive event human activity natural process

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