put down vs destroy

put down and destroy both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
put down	No	No	Yes	No
destroy	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, put down and destroy are synonyms defined as:

put down (verb)	destroy (verb)
put down in writing; of texts, musical compositions, etc.	defeat soundly and humiliatingly
make a record of; set down in permanent form	destroy completely; damage irreparably
put in a horizontal position	put (an animal) to death
remove (cargo, people, etc.) from and leave	do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
cause to sit or seat or be in a settled position or place
put (an animal) to death
reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
cause to come to the ground