destroyer
destroyer Lexical Profile
destroyer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fast, maneuverable, and long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or convoy and defend them against smaller, powerful short-range attackers.
"The retired naval destroyer has been converted into a floating maritime museum open to the public."
A person or thing that ruins, demolishes, or puts an end to something.
"Unchecked coastal erosion has proven to be a relentless destroyer of beachfront habitats."
• Rhymes for destroyer
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in Middle English as 'destroier', the word derives from Old French 'destruire', which goes back to Latin 'destruere' ('to tear down'), formed from 'de-' ('un-, down') and 'struere' ('to build'). The naval sense emerged in the late 19th century as a shortened form of 'torpedo-boat destroyer', a vessel designed specifically to defend larger warships against torpedo boats.