root out vs destroy

root out and destroy both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
root out	No	No	Yes	No
destroy	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, destroy is a hypernym of root out; that is, destroy is a word with a broader meaning than root out:

Other hypernyms of root out include destruct.

root out (verb)	destroy (verb)
pull up by or as if by the roots	defeat soundly and humiliatingly
destroy completely, as if down to the roots	destroy completely; damage irreparably
	put (an animal) to death
	do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of