Definitions and Examples of destroy, ruin
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To damage or ruin something completely, making it unusable or unrepairable.
Example
The hurricane destroyed the entire town, leaving nothing but rubble behind.
To cause severe damage to something, making it unusable or ineffective.
Example
The heavy rain ruined the picnic by soaking all the food and making the ground muddy.
Key Differences: destroy vs ruin
- 1Destroy implies complete and irreversible damage, while ruin suggests severe damage that may or may not be repairable.
- 2Destroy is often used in the context of war, natural disasters, or intentional acts of violence, while ruin can refer to any situation where something is severely damaged or rendered useless.
Effective Usage of destroy, ruin
- 1Discuss Natural Disasters: Use destroy and ruin to describe the impact of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods.
- 2Talk About Accidents: Use destroy and ruin to describe accidents that result in severe damage to property or infrastructure.
- 3Describe Negative Outcomes: Use destroy and ruin to describe negative outcomes of events or actions.
Remember this!
The antonyms of created are destroy and ruin. Destroy implies complete and irreversible damage, while ruin suggests severe damage that may or may not be repairable. These words can be used to discuss natural disasters, accidents, and negative outcomes of events or actions.