vernielen

Meaning

to destroy

Concepts

destroy

quash

ruin

demolish

overthrow

annihilate

wreck

dash

pull down

take down

demolish dash

breakdown

devastate

spoil

trash

vandalize

break down

ravage

unbuild

abolish

waste

sweep away

decimate

eliminate

eradicate

expunge

exterminate

extinguish

Etymology

From Middle Dutch vernielen, a verb derived (with the circumfix ver- -en) from the word niel, which appears to have meant "prone", and which derives from Proto-Germanic *nīwalaz (compare Old English neowol). The verb thus originally may have meant "to topple" or "to overthrow".