Definitions and Examples of destroy, demolish, ruin
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To cause something to cease to exist; to ruin or damage something beyond repair.
Example
The hurricane destroyed the entire town, leaving nothing but rubble behind.
To completely destroy a building or structure.
Example
The old stadium was demolished to make way for a new one.
To cause something to fall into disrepair or decay; to spoil or damage something.
Example
The heavy rain ruined our picnic plans, making it impossible to enjoy the outdoors.
Key Differences: destroy vs demolish vs ruin
- 1Destroy implies complete annihilation, while demolish refers specifically to the destruction of a building or structure.
- 2Ruin is a more general term that can refer to the damage or destruction of anything, not just buildings or structures.
Effective Usage of destroy, demolish, ruin
- 1Expressing Negative Outcomes: Use destroy, demolish, and ruin to describe negative outcomes or consequences.
- 2Describing Natural Disasters: Use destroy and demolish to describe the impact of natural disasters on buildings and structures.
- 3Discussing Historical Events: Use ruin to describe the decline or fall of historical civilizations or empires.
Remember this!
The antonyms of produce are destroy, demolish, and ruin. Destroy implies complete annihilation, demolish refers specifically to the destruction of a building or structure, and ruin is a more general term that can refer to the damage or destruction of anything. These words can be used to express negative outcomes, describe natural disasters, and discuss historical events.