The phrase "attempted to destroy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an effort or action taken to eliminate or ruin something.
Example: "The hacker attempted to destroy the company's database, but the security measures prevented any damage."
Alternatives: "sought to eliminate" or "tried to obliterate".
Political opposition attempted to destroy Mr. Blumenauer's efforts by using disgraceful rhetoric about death panels.
Lukashenko attempted to destroy the political opposition after the rigged 2010 presidential elections.
Several Portuguese and Dutch slave-hunting expeditions (bandeiras) attempted to destroy Palmares; one of these finally succeeded in 1694.
The regime attempted to destroy the union, but in the end it was forced to give way.
By selecting mass-produced, commonplace objects, Duchamp attempted to destroy the notion of the uniqueness of the art object.
Sitting just feet away from the man who had attempted to destroy their lives, they described their ordeals.
The way they have conducted their campaign has increasingly suggested that they have consciously attempted to destroy intelligent argument by unleashing nihilism.
Often, Syrian investigators accompanied moderate rebel groups as they attacked security-intelligence buildings, but government forces attempted to destroy any files that they couldn't bring with them.
Entrusted with the "crown jewels," the university contended, Shaw had attempted to destroy the public breeding program in order to enrich himself and his friends.
The fact that the SS attempted to destroy all evidence of the ovens and gas chambers is the paramount reason that Auschwitz-Birkenau be maintained.
He said: "The Metropolitan police of Bernard Hogattemptedtoemptedestroystroy my life and end my career for their own public relations purposes in a 100% fraud.
