denude

USAGE SUMMARY

'denude' is a correct word in written English.
It is a verb that means to remove a covering or an outer layer from something. Example sentence: The hurricane denuded the houses of their roofs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

These decisions, each at the margin, can denude a financial centre.

The Economist

Indeed, some MPs from these cities are privately anxious that mayors will denude them of power and prestige.There is also a strategic opportunity for the Tories in this new wave of localism.

The Economist

A swarm of Japanese beetles can denude a peach tree in 15 minutes, leaving nothing but bare branches and the fruit pits.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Paris, Premier Paul Reynaud (who had replaced Daladier in March) pleaded for emergency aid from Britain and the United States; the British sent some additional air units but were unwilling to denude their island of all air defense; U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered moral encouragement but not open intervention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Snow geese often denude areas of cotton grass, leaving behind mostly mosses, which increases the flux of solar energy into soils.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Claud considered it a pleasure to denude his property of expensively raised pheasants.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

It was feared that the lake would pour over the top and burst down the valley but fortunately the river gouged out an escape route along the side of the landblock which acted as a safety valve and limited the damage.The need to reverse the denuding of forests has been proclaimed time and again by the government but to no effect.

The Economist

The towns that are now declining were once growing quickly, denuding other settlements, often in the countryside.

The Economist

Yet Mr Fischer expertly musters these meagre resources to tell the story of the island's early history, when a large and fairly advanced civilisation was brought low by ecological collapse as the island was systematically denuded of trees, which were cut down for firewood, building material or to make canoes.

The Economist

Watching it happen "is a nightmare".These comments are given extra credibility by the fact that Mr Carter is himself a rancher, with 8,100 hectares (20,000 acres) on the denuded eastern edge of the Xingu river basin in Mato Grosso, a vast Amazonian state.

The Economist

When I look at the bird's carcass at the end of a Christmas dinner, and it's scrapped, denuded, used up, bare, I empathise.I was looking forward to the long drive home until it began: the northeastern coast roads are where America's love affair with the automobile dies a slow, choking death.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "denude", consider the active or passive voice. For example, instead of "the forest was denuded", you could say "deforestation denuded the forest" for a more direct impact.

Common error

Avoid using "denude" in contexts where simpler words like "remove" or "strip" would suffice. Overusing "denude" in abstract or figurative senses can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "denude" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being stripped or made bare. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples show it used actively and passively.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "denude" is a grammatically correct transitive verb that means to strip something of its covering, whether physically or metaphorically. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not overly formal, it's most commonly found in news, encyclopedia, and scientific contexts, suggesting a register leaning towards neutral to formal. It's important to consider the impact and context when using "denude", and to choose simpler alternatives like "strip bare" or "lay bare" in more casual settings. Be mindful of overuse and potential alternatives to ensure clarity and appropriateness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strip bare

Emphasizes complete removal of covering, similar to completely "denuding" something.

lay bare

Focuses on uncovering something previously hidden, akin to the result of "denuding".

uncover

Highlights the act of revealing something, similar to "denuding" in a metaphorical sense.

divest

Stresses the action of depriving someone or something of power, rights, or possessions, analogous to "denuding" in abstract contexts.

expose

Highlights bringing something to public attention that was previously hidden, resembling "denuding" in terms of revelation.

peel away

Suggests removing layers gradually, similar to the process of "denuding".

excavate

Implies digging up and exposing something buried, related to "denuding" in a physical context.

deforest

Specifically refers to clearing a forest, a common application of "denuding".

empty

Focuses on the result of making something devoid of its contents, similar to the outcome of "denuding".

clear

Implies removing obstructions or unwanted elements, related to "denuding" in terms of making something bare.

FAQs

How can I use "denude" in a sentence?

You can use "denude" to describe stripping something of its covering, like, "The beetles can "denude" a peach tree in minutes." It can also be used figuratively, meaning to strip something of its power or importance.

What words are similar to "denude"?

Alternatives to "denude" include "strip bare", "lay bare", or "uncover" depending on the specific context you intend.

What is the difference between "denude" and "deforest"?

"Denude" means to strip something of its covering. "Deforest" specifically means to "denude" a forest, or clear it of trees.

Is "denude" a formal word?

While "denude" isn't overly formal, it's more commonly used in news, encyclopedias, and academic contexts rather than in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives might be better in informal settings.