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Verbs of Helping and Hurting - Verbs for Destruction and Damage

Here you will learn some English verbs referring to destruction and damage such as "wreck", "ruin", and "spoil".

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Categorized English Verbs of Helping and Hurting
to destroy

to cause damage to something in a way that it no longer exists, works, etc.

Ex: Environmental pollution often destroys delicate ecosystems and harms wildlife. 
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to demolish

to completely destroy or to knock down a building or another structure

Ex: The old factory was demolished to make way for a new development. 
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to wreck
to wreck
[Verb]

to damage or destroy something severely

Ex: The storm had the power to wreck houses along the coast. 
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to mangle
to mangle
[Verb]

to severely damage or destroy something

Ex: The machine malfunctioned and began to mangle the fabric. 
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to ruin
to ruin
[Verb]

to cause severe damage or harm to something, usually in a way that is beyond repair

Ex: The flood had the power to ruin the foundation of the house. 
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to spoil
to spoil
[Verb]

to harm, damage, or ruin something

Ex: Heavy rain during the outdoor event threatened to spoil the carefully arranged decorations. 
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to obliterate

to completely destroy something

Ex: The powerful explosion was so intense that it seemed to obliterate the entire building. 
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to extinguish

to end or destroy something entirely

Ex: The authorities took swift action to extinguish the criminal organization. 
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to collapse

(of a construction) to fall down suddenly, particularly due to being damaged or weak

Ex: The old building collapsed after years of neglect and structural decay. 
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to raze
to raze
[Verb]

to completely destroy a building, city, etc.

Ex: The old factory was deemed unsafe, so they decided to raze it and build a new facility. 
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to exterminate

to destroy completely

Ex: The ruthless dictator sought to exterminate any opposition to his regime. 
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to extirpate

to completely destroy or remove something

Ex: Conservationists are working to extirpate the invasive plant species threatening the native flora. 
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to zap
to zap
[Verb]

to attack or destroy, especially with a sudden force or energy

Ex: The superhero used his laser vision to zap the enemy's defenses. 
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to knock down

to destroy a structure such as building or wall

Ex: The bulldozers are knocking down the old buildings to make way for a new development. 
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to tear down

to destroy something completely

Ex: The decision to tear down the old stadium was met with mixed reactions. 
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to pull down

to demolish a structure or building, typically by pulling it apart or taking it down piece by piece

Ex: The city council decided to pull the old theater down to make way for a new mall. 
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to incinerate

to burn something completely until it turns into ashes

Ex: The waste management facility incinerates household trash to reduce its volume. 
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to annihilate

to destroy someone or something completely

Ex: The powerful explosion threatened to annihilate the entire building. 
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to combust

to make something catch fire and burn

Ex: The chemist carefully combusted the substances to observe the resulting reaction. 
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to burn out

to destroy completely, especially by fire

Ex: The intense heat from the explosion burned out the surrounding vegetation. 
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to damage
to damage
[Verb]

to physically harm something

Ex: The storm's strong winds and hailstones damaged the roof of the house. 
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to wear
to wear
[Verb]

to cause damage due to repeated friction or usage

Ex: The repeated opening and closing of the door had worn the hinge. 
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to weather

to make something change in terms of color, shape, etc. due to the effect or influence of the sun, wind, or rain

Ex: The constant exposure to sunlight weathered the wooden deck, turning it a silvery gray. 
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to impair
to impair
[Verb]

to cause something to become weak or less effective

Ex: Prolonged exposure to loud noise can impair hearing over time. 
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to trample

to step heavily or crush underfoot with force

Ex: In the chaos, people began to trample the fallen leaves during the outdoor concert. 
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to ravage
to ravage
[Verb]

to cause severe destruction or damage

Ex: The hurricane ravaged the coastal town, leaving behind a trail of destruction. 
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to crush
to crush
[Verb]

to become damaged, broken, or deformed under pressure

Ex: The fragile glass ornament crushed easily when it fell to the floor. 
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to trash
to trash
[Verb]

to damage or destroy something, usually deliberately

Ex: The vandals trashed the abandoned building, breaking windows and spray-painting walls. 
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to crash
to crash
[Verb]

to break with a sudden and loud impact, often causing damage

Ex: The window crashed under the force of the heavy stone. 
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to collide

to come into sudden and forceful contact with another object or person

Ex: The two cars collided at the intersection, resulting in a minor accident. 
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