destruir

Senses

1. 1.

   to destroy

   to ruin or demolish something completely

2. 2.

   to devastate

   to cause severe damage or harm

3. 3.

   to spoil

   to ruin or diminish the value or enjoyment of something

4. 4.

   to annihilate

   to wipe out or eliminate completely

Examples

• "O incêndio destruiu a casa inteira."

  The fire destroyed the entire house.

• "Suas palavras destruíram minha confiança nele."

  His words destroyed my trust in him.

• "A guerra destruiu a infraestrutura do país."

  The war devastated the country's infrastructure.

Usage

Destruir is a common verb expressing complete ruin or damage, used both literally (physical objects) and figuratively (emotions, relationships, trust). It's more emphatic than simply "estragar" (to spoil). Often appears in journalistic and everyday contexts.