destroyed down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "destroyed down" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is a redundant expression, as "destroyed" already implies a complete loss or ruin, making "down" unnecessary. Example: "The building was completely destroyed in the fire."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

At grade III the fissuring extends just short of the subchondral bone (the bone beneath the cartilage), and at grade IV the cartilage is destroyed down to the subchondral bone.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many properties were destroyed, down to the concrete slabs, and it was almost impossible to determine whether the damage in these "slab cases," as the insurance industry terms them, was caused by water or by wind or by both.

The New Yorker

Before he arrived angry supporters tore and destroyed down a giant poster of Karzai, who Abdullah claimed helped election opponent Ashraf Ghani cheat his way to victory.

The Guardian

Then he's off, talking again about the house that was destroyed down the way.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I've seen enough families destroyed," Downs said, "that to me the benefit of making it not be accessible outweighs the downside of taking away yet another spot that locals enjoy".

Huffington Post

Maybe Black Rod does indeed have a "killer memorandum" that destroys Downing Street's version (if so, the fallout will be enormous).

The Guardian

From the walls, portraits of the eminent old men who occupied this office before him, and whose regime he and his friends have just destroyed, look down on him.

The New Yorker

In six weeks, when everything is forgotten, they will look stupid and realise that the houses are still destroyed, burned down or whatever.

Huffington Post

The presence or absence of one or more molecule, activity, or function, [some icons in the cartoon] will determine whether another one of them will be produced (created, up-regulated, stimulated) [a 'positive' link] or destroyed (degraded, down-regulated, inhibited) [a 'negative' link], or be unaffected [there is no link].

BMC Biology

Cursed Fig is an optional tech card that when destroyed, will lock down face-down 2 Spell/Trap cards from being activated as long as it's in the graveyard.

WikiHow

This week, the ruins are everywhere: dozens killed, billions in property destroyed, transportation shut down, blackouts for millions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical destruction, consider using more vivid and precise language that conveys the extent and nature of the damage. For instance, instead of "destroyed down", you could say "razed to the ground" or "reduced to rubble".

Common error

The word "destroyed" already implies a complete negation or ruin. Adding "down" is generally unnecessary and can weaken the impact of your writing. Choose strong verbs that stand alone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "destroyed down" functions as a verb phrase, but its usage is often considered redundant. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable, as "destroyed" already implies a complete action, making "down" unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "destroyed down" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "down" when used with "destroyed". It's advisable to opt for single-word alternatives like "demolished" or "obliterated" for clearer and more impactful writing. The phrase occurs most frequently in News & Media sources, but its informal register and questionable grammar make it unsuitable for formal or professional communication. Instead use the alternatives /s/obliterated, /s/demolished, /s/razed+to+the+ground, all of them result in a clearer and stronger way of expressing the concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely destroyed

Emphasizes the totality of the destruction, removing the directional "down".

utterly ruined

Replaces "destroyed" with "ruined" to highlight the irreversible damage.

demolished completely

Substitutes "destroyed" with "demolished" to suggest a more structural obliteration.

obliterated

Uses a single word to describe complete destruction, removing the need for "down".

torn down

Focuses on the act of forcefully removing or dismantling something, changing the emphasis.

laid waste

Offers a more figurative and impactful expression of devastation.

razed to the ground

Specifically indicates that something has been leveled or flattened.

reduced to rubble

Highlights the outcome of the destruction, focusing on the debris left behind.

brought to nothing

Suggests that something has been rendered useless or ineffective.

wiped out

Implies a complete removal or eradication of something.

FAQs

Is "destroyed down" grammatically correct?

No, "destroyed down" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because "destroyed" already implies a complete obliteration. The addition of "down" is redundant.

What are some alternatives to saying "destroyed down"?

You can use stronger verbs like "demolished", "obliterated", "ruined", or phrases like "razed to the ground" or "reduced to rubble".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "destroyed down"?

While not considered standard English, you might find "destroyed down" in informal speech or writing, or in contexts where the speaker or writer is not a native English speaker.

How can I improve my writing to avoid phrases like "destroyed down"?

Focus on using precise and impactful vocabulary. Review your sentences to eliminate redundant words or phrases that don't add significant meaning. Consider using a thesaurus to find stronger, single-word replacements.