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Hurt vs Destroy - What's the difference?

hurt | destroy | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between hurt and destroy

is that hurt is to be painful while destroy is to cause destruction.

In transitive terms the difference between hurt and destroy

is that hurt is to undermine, impede, or damage while destroy is to put down or euthanize.

As an adjective hurt

is wounded, physically injured.

As a noun hurt

is an emotional or psychological hurt (humiliation or bad experience.

hurt

English

Verb

  • To be painful.
  • Does your leg still hurt ? / It is starting to feel better.
  • To cause (a creature) physical pain and/or injury.
  • If anybody hurts my little brother I will get upset.
  • To cause (somebody) emotional pain.
  • To undermine, impede, or damage.
  • This latest gaffe hurts the MP's reelection prospects still further.

    Synonyms

    * wound, injure

    Derived terms

    * wouldn't hurt a fly

    See also

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Wounded, physically injured.
  • Pained.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An emotional or psychological hurt (humiliation or bad experience)
  • * How to overcome old hurts of the past
  • (archaic) A bodily injury causing pain; a wound or bruise.
  • * 1605 , Shakespeare, King Lear vii
  • I have received a hurt .
  • * John Locke
  • The pains of sickness and hurts all men feel.
  • (archaic) injury; damage; detriment; harm
  • * Shakespeare
  • Thou dost me yet but little hurt .
  • (heraldiccharge) A roundel azure (blue circular spot).
  • (engineering) A band on a trip-hammer helve, bearing the trunnions.
  • A husk.
  • References

    destroy

    English

    Verb

  • To damage beyond use or repair.
  • The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
  • To cause destruction.
  • ''Hooligans destroy unprovoked
  • To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
  • ''Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate
  • To put down or euthanize.
  • Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
  • (colloquial) To defeat soundly.
  • (computing) To remove data.
  • The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.

    Synonyms

    * annihilate * break * demolish * kill * ruin * waste * See also

    Antonyms

    * build * construct * create * make * raise * repair

    Derived terms

    * destroyable * destroyer * destroyer escort * destroying angel