destroy, ruin, overthrow, perish
滅 centers on complete destruction: something being ruined, overthrown, or perishing entirely. The water radical suggests extinguishing or washing away until nothing remains.
滅 combines 氵 (water) with 烕, which itself contains 火 (fire) and 戈 (halberd/weapon). The character likely expresses destruction by water and weapon, extinguishing fire and life.
Water 氵 pours over the right side, which contains fire 火 and a weapon 戈. Imagine a flood and a weapon working together to destroy everything, leaving only ruin.
For メツ, picture a mighty flood that destroys a city, and the sound of the rushing water is a deep 'metsu' roar: metsu -> メツ.
absurd; unreasonable; nonsensical; preposterous; incoherent
extinction; extinguishment; disappearance; vanishing; termination; lapse
extinction; extermination
total destruction; complete destruction; annihilation; being wiped out
(complete) destruction; annihilation; devastation
to destroy; to overthrow; to wreck; to ruin
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
ruin; destruction; fall
thoughtless; reckless; careless; rash
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct; to perish
eradication; extermination; destruction; suppression
annihilation; extermination; (total) destruction; wiping out
switching on and off (of a light); flashing; blinking; flickering
self-destruction; ruining oneself
rarely; seldom
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct; to perish
immortal; undying; indestructible
extinction; annihilation; destruction
destruction (esp. of evidence); spoliation; suppression
disillusionment; disillusion; disenchantment