are being devastated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are being devastated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action where something is currently experiencing severe damage or destruction. Example: "The forests are being devastated by the wildfires that have spread across the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"The Eritreans, who are being devastated by the war, need to lie to boost their morale".

The New York Times

Palmer said: "Our lives are being devastated by the billion pound cuts to essential services that we all depend on.

The Guardian

"Beech trees are presently being attacked by beech bark disease complex, the hemlocks are being devastated by the woolley adelgid," he said.

The New York Times

Another study released in May by local scientists was just as damning, finding that the coastal waters around Guangdong are being devastated by large deposits of oil, lead, arsenic, mercury and copper.

The New York Times

While he wastes time threatening unions and making gestures at the banks, thousands of finance workers are losing their jobs and communities are being devastated by the closure of finance centres".

The Guardian - Business

And then the biggest thing, and this is a huge lift and I don't know if anyone can galvanize a city to deal with this, but we are being devastated as a result of substance abuse.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Now for the first time cities were being devastated and many civilians killed.

The New Yorker

Michelle Lerner Flanders, N.J., Dec. 11, 2007 • To the Editor: The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is being devastated by a brain drain.

The New York Times

This week Qiu Baixing, a deputy minister of construction, said historical architecture and cultural sites were being "devastated" by rapid urban construction.

The Economist

We're aware that as we sit here surveying the horizon, the east coast of the US is being devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

The Guardian - Opinion

He added that local shops in Calais and the regional economy were being "devastated" and that there "had to be a solution".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are being devastated" to describe situations where an ongoing destructive process is significantly impacting something, emphasizing both the action and its severe consequences. For example, "The coral reefs are being devastated by rising ocean temperatures".

Common error

Avoid using "are being devastated" for minor inconveniences or damages. Reserve it for situations involving substantial and destructive impacts. For example, saying "My plans are being devastated by the rain" is an overstatement; "disrupted" or "affected" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are being devastated" functions as a passive progressive verb phrase. It indicates an ongoing process of destruction, emphasizing that something is currently experiencing severe damage. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct construction used to describe an action in progress.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are being devastated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to describe an ongoing process of severe damage or destruction. As Ludwig AI points out, its primary function is to convey the intensity and continuous nature of the event. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for objectively reporting impactful situations. When employing this phrase, ensure its application aligns with situations of significant destruction, avoiding overuse in less severe scenarios. Alternative phrases, such as ""are experiencing devastation"" or ""are suffering severe destruction"", can provide nuanced variations in meaning and tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are being destroyed

Uses a more common and direct synonym for "devastated", simplifying the language.

are experiencing devastation

Replaces the verb "devastated" with the noun "devastation", changing the grammatical structure slightly.

are suffering severe destruction

Substitutes "devastated" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the severity of the damage.

are undergoing catastrophic damage

Emphasizes the disastrous nature of the damage, using "catastrophic" to heighten the impact.

are facing utter ruin

Shifts the focus to the outcome of the devastation, highlighting the potential for complete destruction.

are being annihilated

Indicates a complete and utter destruction, suggesting nothing will remain.

are crumbling into ruin

Emphasizes the progressive deterioration and collapse resulting from the devastation.

are feeling the full force of destruction

Highlights the intensity and impact of the destructive forces at play.

are in the process of being ruined

Lengthens the phrase to explicitly state the ongoing nature of the destructive process.

are meeting their demise

Uses a more dramatic and literary phrase to describe the ultimate destruction or end.

FAQs

How can I use "are being devastated" in a sentence?

Use "are being devastated" to describe situations where something is currently experiencing severe damage or destruction due to a specific cause. For example, "The coastal communities are being devastated by the rising sea levels."

What can I say instead of "are being devastated"?

You can use alternatives like "are experiencing devastation", "are suffering severe destruction", or "are undergoing catastrophic damage" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "are being devastated" in the past tense?

Yes, but the form changes. In the past tense, you would say "were being devastated" to describe something that was undergoing severe damage in the past. For example, "The city's infrastructure were being devastated by the earthquake."

What's the difference between "are being devastated" and "are being destroyed"?

While both phrases indicate destruction, "are being devastated" implies a more profound and widespread level of damage. "are being destroyed" is a more general term for the act of ruining or obliterating something.