Meaning & use
destruct
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical
To destroy something on purpose, especially as a built-in safety feature of a machine or device.
Grammar: Can take an object (destruct a missile) or stand alone (the rocket will destruct); the object is usually a device or data.
Patterns
- destruct something
- something destructs
- self-destruct
The engineers can destruct the drone remotely if it flies off course.
The charge was set to destruct the launcher after the launch failed.
If the system detects tampering, it will destruct the memory chips.
verbintransitivetechnical
To destroy itself automatically, usually said of a device, vehicle, or program.
Grammar: No object; the subject destroys itself, and the verb is nearly always written as self-destruct.
Patterns
- self-destruct
- something self-destructs
The recorder is designed to self-destruct if it is opened.
Mission control waited for the booster to self-destruct over the ocean.
The message will self-destruct a few seconds after you read it.
Word forms
| third person singular | destructs |
|---|---|
| past tense | destructed |
| past participle | destructed |
| -ing form | destructing |
Common combinations
- self-destruct
- The tape was programmed to self-destruct after one playing.
- destruct a device
- Soldiers can destruct a device from a safe distance.
- destruct on command
- The satellite will destruct on command from the ground station.
- destruct sequence
- The crew began the destruct sequence when the fuel line broke.
Synonyms and how they differ
- destroy
- Destroy is the everyday word for damaging something so badly that it no longer exists or works; destruct is narrower and mostly technical.
- demolish
- Demolish means pulling down a building or structure, so it does not fit small devices or data.
- detonate
- Detonate means setting off an explosion; it describes the cause, while destruct describes the deliberate destruction of the object itself.
Opposites
Word family
- destruction noun
- the act of destroying something, or the damage that results
- destructive adjective
- causing great damage or harm
- destructible adjective
- able to be destroyed
- indestructible adjective
- impossible to destroy
Commonly confused: destruct or destroy? destruct or distract?
destruct vs destroy
Destroy is the normal verb for ruining something completely; destruct is rare outside technical or self-destruct contexts, so "they destructed the old house" sounds wrong.
destruct vs distract
Distract means to take someone's attention away; it sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses "destruct" in the most natural way?
Choose one answer.
"Self-destruct" is the standard use of this verb for a device destroying itself. The other options use destruct as a general word for destroying buildings or work, where destroy or rewrite would be used instead.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “destruct”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.