a devastating influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a devastating influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a severe and harmful effect on a person, group, or situation. Example: "The economic downturn had a devastating influence on small businesses in the area, leading to many closures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That has a devastating influence on women with a growing or chronic alcohol problem.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Board and our candidates are ignoring the devastating influence of climate change on our community.

Huffington Post

The poorer urea clearance might lead to azotemic symptoms, and the accompanied malnutrition statuses may have devastating influences.

BioMed Research International

Though influenced by Kafka, Buzzati has a devastating skill and a detached sort of irony and humour of his own.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was a devastating critique of traditional medical decision-making, and it had wide influence.

The New Yorker

In 1988, outraged at the undue influence of the pesticide and fertilizer industries, he began a devastating hunger strike that lasted 36 days, drinking only water.

Huffington Post

IT IS a devastating prospect.

The Economist

Then a devastating tsunami followed.

The Economist

It was a devastating dismissal.

The New Yorker

It was a devastating presentation.

The New Yorker

This was a devastating shock.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a devastating influence", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being affected and the nature of the devastation. Specificity enhances the impact of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "a devastating influence" in situations where the impact is merely negative or inconvenient. Reserve it for genuinely serious and destructive effects to maintain its intended gravity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a devastating influence" functions as a noun phrase, where "devastating" modifies the noun "influence". It describes the intensity and nature of the impact something has. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes a severe and harmful effect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a devastating influence" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes something with a severe and harmful effect. While relatively rare in occurrence, its primary contexts span across News & Media and Science. When employing this phrase, ensure the context warrants the strong language and clearly indicates what is being affected. Alternatives such as "a catastrophic effect" or "a ruinous impact" can be considered depending on the nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a catastrophic effect

Replaces "devastating" with "catastrophic", implying a more sudden and widespread disaster.

a ruinous impact

Substitutes "devastating" with "ruinous", highlighting the destructive and damaging consequences.

a calamitous outcome

Replaces "influence" with "outcome" and "devastating" with "calamitous", shifting the focus to the disastrous result.

a crushing blow

Replaces "devastating influence" with "crushing blow", indicating a sudden and impactful setback.

a crippling effect

Substitutes "devastating" with "crippling", suggesting a weakening or disabling consequence.

a destructive force

Replaces "influence" with "force" and "devastating" with "destructive", emphasizing the damaging power.

a detrimental impact

Substitutes "devastating" with "detrimental", indicating a harmful but potentially less severe consequence.

a grave consequence

Replaces "influence" with "consequence" and "devastating" with "grave", focusing on the serious and significant outcome.

a severe repercussion

Substitutes "influence" with "repercussion" and "devastating" with "severe", emphasizing the harsh and negative consequences.

a tragic development

Replaces "influence" with "development" and "devastating" with "tragic", highlighting the sorrowful and unfortunate unfolding.

FAQs

How can I use "a devastating influence" in a sentence?

You can use "a devastating influence" to describe something that has a severe and harmful effect. For example: "The war had "a devastating influence" on the country's economy".

What phrases are similar to "a devastating influence"?

Similar phrases include "a catastrophic effect", "a ruinous impact", or "a calamitous outcome", which all convey a sense of significant negative impact.

Is it appropriate to use "a devastating influence" in formal writing?

Yes, "a devastating influence" can be used in formal writing when describing a situation with truly severe and destructive consequences. However, ensure the context warrants such strong language.

What is the difference between "a devastating influence" and "a negative influence"?

"A devastating influence" implies a much more severe and destructive impact than "a negative influence". Use "a devastating influence" when the consequences are truly catastrophic.