Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
😈 A destroying angel 💥 A destroyer
Apollyon

Apollyon

9.9
A person or thing that causes great destruction
  • noun
  • /əˈpɑliˌɑn/
  • Literature
translation icon : destructor
  • In the novel, the villain is described as an Apollyon who brings chaos wherever he goes.

Examples

  • Many feared the new disease would become an Apollyon for the entire region.

  • The wildfire swept through the forest like an Apollyon, leaving nothing but ashes behind.

  • The Apollyon of war destroys everything.

  • Don't let Apollyon take control of your life!

  • The hurricane was an Apollyon, devastating entire towns and displacing thousands of people.

  • Many consider pollution to be an Apollyon that threatens the health of our planet.

  • The ruthless dictator was seen as an Apollyon, bringing ruin to the lives of countless citizens.

Synonyms

destroyer
vsApollyon
39 5.5

A person or thing that causes great damage

is used more as a figurative name for great ruin rather than literal force
annihilator
vsApollyon
5 8.5

A person or thing that completely destroys something

implies great ruin but not necessarily absolute annihilation in every case
ruiner
vsApollyon
3 7.9

A person or thing that destroys something

is about great, sweeping ruin rather than limited or partial harm
pulverizer
vsApollyon
  • US
1 8.2

A person or thing that defeats others very easily and completely

focuses on causing ruin rather than on winning or overwhelming opponents
destructor
vsApollyon
1 7.4

A person or thing that causes a lot of damage to something

is commonly used as a figurative name rather than a technical term
ravager
vsApollyon
1 8.0

A person or thing that causes a lot of damage

is often used figuratively rather than mainly describing physical damage
ruinator
vsApollyon
9.9

Someone or something that causes great damage

is used for much larger, catastrophic ruin rather than simple damage
desolator
vsApollyon
9.1

A person or thing that destroys and leaves a place empty

is broader and denotes great destruction beyond just emptying places
undoer
vsApollyon
9.9

A person or thing that causes ruin

refers more to widespread physical ruin rather than mainly causing downfall

Surface Forms

Apollyon singular
Apollyons plural

Etymology

Apollyon comes from an old Greek root apolly- that means 'to destroy', and it was used for things that bring total ruin. So calling someone an Apollyon compares them to a powerful force of destruction.