What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
devastate
Example
The hurricane devastated the coastal town, leaving behind a trail of destruction. [devastated: past tense]
Example
The news of her father's death devastated her. [devastated: verb]
ruin
Example
The fire completely ruined the old building. [ruined: past tense]
Example
His addiction to drugs ruined his life. [ruined: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ruin is more commonly used than devastate in everyday language. Ruin is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while devastate is less common and often used in more extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between devastate and ruin?
Both devastate and ruin are formal words, but devastate is often used in more serious or tragic situations, while ruin can be used in a wider range of contexts.
