What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mangle
Example
The car was so badly mangled in the accident that it was impossible to repair. [mangled: past participle]
Example
She accidentally mangled her dress in the washing machine. [mangle: verb]
ruin
Example
The storm ruined the crops and caused a lot of damage to the farm. [ruined: past tense]
Example
He spent all his money on gambling and ended up ruining his life. [ruining: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ruin is more commonly used than mangle in everyday language. Ruin is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mangle is less common and often used in a limited context.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mangle and ruin?
Both mangle and ruin are informal words that can be used in casual conversation. However, ruin can also be used in formal writing or speech to describe catastrophic or irreversible outcomes.
