Definitions
- Describing a situation where something has caused great damage or destruction. - Talking about the emotional impact of a tragic event or loss. - Referring to a state of extreme shock or distress.
- Describing a state of complete destruction or collapse. - Talking about the process of something becoming damaged beyond repair. - Referring to a situation where something has been spoiled or ruined beyond use.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a state of damage or destruction.
- 2Both words can be used to describe physical or emotional damage.
- 3Both words have negative connotations.
- 4Both words imply a sense of permanence in the damage caused.
What is the difference?
- 1Extent: Devastate implies a greater degree of damage than ruin.
- 2Cause: Devastate often implies a natural disaster or external force causing the damage, while ruin can refer to a variety of causes.
- 3Emotion: Devastate is often used to describe the emotional impact of a tragic event, while ruin is more commonly used to describe physical damage.
- 4Reversibility: Ruin implies that the damage is irreversible, while devastate may allow for some possibility of recovery.
- 5Intensity: Devastate is a stronger word than ruin, and therefore carries a greater emotional weight.
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Remember this!
Devastate and ruin are synonyms that both describe a state of damage or destruction. However, devastate implies a greater degree of damage caused by an external force, often with an emotional impact, while ruin can refer to a variety of causes and emphasizes the irreversibility of the damage.
