The word(s) "destroy" appears 69 time(s) in 65 verse(s) in Quran in Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation.

(41) And how many populations We destroyed, which exulted in their life (of ease and plenty)! now those habitations of theirs, after them, are deserted,- All but a (miserable) few! and We are their heirs!

(42) Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent to its centre a messenger, rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We going to destroy a population except when its members practise iniquity.

(43) He said: "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed, before him, (whole) generations,- which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? but the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins.

(44) When Our Messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said: "We are indeed going to destroy the people of this township: for truly they are (addicted to) crime."

(45) Does it not teach them a lesson, how many generations We destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they (now) go to and fro? Verily in that are Signs: Do they not then listen?

(46) See they not how many generations before them we destroyed? Not to them will they return:

(47) Then We destroyed the rest.

(48) How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried (for mercy)- when there was no longer time for being saved!

(49) So We destroyed (them)- stronger in power than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old.

(50) What! Are they better than the people of Tubba and those who were before them? We destroyed them because they were guilty of sin.