here are some synonyms:
abort, annihilate, annul, axe, blot out, break down, butcher, consume, cream, crush, damage, deface, desolate, despoil, dismantle, dispatch, end, eradicate, erase, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, gut, impair, level, liquidate, maim, mar, maraud, mutilate, nullify, overturn, quash, quell, ravage, ravish, raze, ruin, sabotage, shatter, slay, smash, snuff out, spoliate, stamp out, suppress, swallow up, tear down, torpedo, total, trash, vaporize, waste, wipe out, wreck, zap.
perhaps "smash".
comprehend
juxtaposition
Apprehension is another word for fear. Additional synonyms include anxiety, worry, concern and uneasiness.
Circumnavigate is another word for the term "Sail around."
Another word for tarnish is destroy.
Another word for overthrow is defeat. Also the word destroy is another example. You could use the word seize as a synonym of the word overthrow.
Another word for obliterate is to Annihilate, destroy or remove.
destroy destruction
annihilate
Demolish.
In this context, "destroy" means to damage or ruin something beyond repair. The sentence is highlighting that despite being helpful in some ways, rivers also have the potential to cause destruction.
Cowboys loved a colorful phrase! This is another made-up word. It means to utterly destroy.
How about 'demolish'?
Crush
détruire, abimer, and ravager all mean to destroy. I'm not sure if there's another word.
flatten