What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
destroyed
Example
The hurricane destroyed the entire town. [destroyed: past tense]
Example
The fire destroyed all of our belongings. [destroyed: verb]
devastated
Example
She was devastated when she heard the news of her father's death. [devastated: adjective]
Example
The team was devastated after losing the championship game. [devastated: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Destroyed is more commonly used than devastated in everyday language. Destroyed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while devastated is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between destroyed and devastated?
Both destroyed and devastated can be used in formal and informal contexts, but devastated may be more appropriate for expressing strong emotions in personal or informal settings.
