What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ravage
Example
The hurricane ravaged the coastal town, leaving behind a trail of destruction. [ravaged: past tense]
Example
The war ravaged the country, destroying homes and infrastructure. [ravaging: present participle]
destroy
Example
The bomb destroyed the entire building, leaving nothing but rubble. [destroyed: past tense]
Example
The flood destroyed all of our belongings, leaving us with nothing. [destroying: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Destroy is more commonly used than ravage in everyday language. Destroy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ravage is less common and is typically used in more dramatic or intense situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ravage and destroy?
Both ravage and destroy can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ravage may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.
