To break beyond recovery or repair so that the only options are abandonment or the clearing away of useless remains (if any) and starting over.
To ruin many or all things over a large area, such as most or all buildings of a city, or cities of a region, or trees of a forest.
To destroy a whole collection of related ideas, beliefs, and strongly held opinions.
To greatly demoralize, to cause to suffer intense grief or dismay
To remove or erase with a wiping motion