destruir
/desˈtɾwiɾ/ · A2 · verb
to destroy
💥 destruir = de- (undo) + struere (build): to un-build, like destroy
From Latin destruere: de- (down, undo) + struere (to pile up, build). Same root as structure and construct, so destruir is the opposite of construir. English destroy is the same word via French, so the two are direct cognates.