n. The act of destroying; demolition; a pulling down, as of a building; subversion or overthrow, as of a government or a principle; ruin, as of a town, a crop, reputation, virtue, etc.; annihilation or deprivation of existence, as of a man or a forest.n. The state of being destroyed; ruin.n. Cause of destruction; a consuming plague or ruinous infliction; a destroyer.n. Synonyms and Overthrow, desolation, extirpation, eradication, extermination, extinction, devastation.