PERISH

The Greek word "apollumi" is used 92 times in the New Testament. It is translated as perish, destroy or lose. 

It is the word the disciples use in the midst of the storm at sea when they ask Jesus in Mark 4:38, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

It is the word that Peter uses to describe silver and gold as "perishable" things (I Pet 1:18). 

It is one of the words Paul uses in 2 Cor 4:8-9: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

And he uses "apollumi" to refer to rules that are "destined to perish with use" (Col 2:22). 

It is the lost coin and the lost sheep. And it is the prodigal son who "was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." (Luke 15:24)

AND it can describe a life that is lost, like in Mark 8:35-36:  "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"

(Read that again. Jesus here makes it sound like one can lose his soul permanently, doesn't he?)

Most notably, this word "apollumi" is used to designate the opposite of salvation:

1 Cor 1:18: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.'"

2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

And in the most universally recognized evangelistic verse of all time: John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Is there good reason to read more into "perish" here than the plain meaning of  "destroyed", as in "existing no more"? 

Why are we conditioned to read die/perish/destroyed as "suffer eternally in Hell"?

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A few bonus uses of "apollumi":

Luke 13:1-5: "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 

1 Cor 15:12-18: "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." 

James 4:12: "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?"

Matthew 10:28: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."