'structure-destroying' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'structure' and the present participle 'destroying'. 'Structure' ultimately comes from Latin 'structura', where the root 'struere' meant 'to pile up, arrange'; 'destroy' ultimately comes from Latin 'destruere', where the prefix 'de-' meant 'down/away' and 'struere' meant 'to build or pile up'.

'destroy' changed from Latin 'destruere' to Old French 'destruire' and then to Middle English forms (e.g. 'destroyen'), becoming modern English 'destroy'. 'Structure' came from Latin 'structura' via Old French into Middle English 'structure'. These elements were combined in Modern English to form the compound 'structure-destroying'.

Initially the root 'struere' meant 'to pile up/construct'; with the prefix 'de-' in 'destruere' the sense shifted toward 'pull down/remove', leading to the modern sense of 'destroy'. Consequently 'structure-destroying' now specifically means 'causing the destruction of structure'.