destroying

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'destroying' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is being completely destroyed or ruined, such as a person destroying their reputation, or a storm destroying a house. Example: The hurricane left a path of destruction, destroying many homes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A healthy "attention span" becomes just another ineffable quality to remember having, to believe you've lost, to worry about your kids lacking, to blame the culture for destroying.

The New York Times - Magazine

So they must destroy him, just as they tried destroying Clarence Thomas".

The New York Times

WWF reef campaigner Louise Matthieson said the dredging itself would have "serious impacts, like destroying seagrass beds, regardless of where the spoil is dumped".

The Guardian

Updated at 2.48pm BST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 10.26am BST10 26 Kirsty Hughes, chief executive of Index on Censorship, has put out this statement following Alan Rusbridger's revelations about how pressure from "shadowy Whitehall figures" led to the Guardian destroying hard drives in a basement.

The Guardian

We are more confident than ever in destroying the myth that we are a single-issue party.

The Guardian

The fear of being abandoned by one's parents (Hansel and Gretel), or of being destroyed by (or destroying) a parent or sibling – always disguised as, say, a "wicked stepsister" or "stepmother" – recurs again and again, allowing children to access their darker fantasies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By owning shares in these firms, the Gates and Wellcome foundations are profiting from activity that's destroying the planet.

The Guardian

He acknowledged and apologised for his administration's promotion of dumping cheap US rice on Haiti, thereby destroying Haitian rice production and forcing rice farmers to flee to the overcrowded cities. Buttonholed in a UN hallway, he claims he thought that Haitians would "get aid to skip agricultural development and go straight into an industrial era".

The Guardian - Opinion

Big corporations and capitalism in general were destroying the earth".

The Guardian

Put him in the same room as a bacon sandwich right now and there'll be a GIF of him destroying it with eye-lasers by teatime.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

They spend "24 hours a day in their mosquito-infested cells, sleeping on the floor with no books or writing materials to break the soul-destroying tedium", according to Greste.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "destroying", consider the intensity of the action you want to convey. Alternatives like "ruining" or "damaging" may be more appropriate for less severe situations. The term often conveys a sense of totality or near-totality in the damage incurred.

Common error

Avoid using "destroying" when "damaging" or "impairing" would be more accurate. "Destroying" implies a complete and often irreversible end, whereas other words suggest partial or temporary harm.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "destroying" is as a verb in its present participle form, often used in continuous tenses to describe an ongoing action of causing significant damage or ruin. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "destroying" is a versatile verb form used to describe the action of causing significant damage or ruin. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While widely applicable, it's important to consider the intensity of the action and choose synonyms like "ruining", "demolishing", or "obliterating" when a more nuanced expression is needed. Avoid overusing "destroying" in contexts where less severe terms like "damaging" would be more appropriate. The prevalence in news sources reflects its use in reporting significant events involving substantial damage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ruining

Indicates severe damage or spoilage, making something unusable or undesirable.

wrecking

Implies severe damage or destruction, often resulting from an accident or force.

demolishing

Emphasizes the complete dismantling or razing of a structure or system.

wiping out

Indicates the complete elimination or eradication of something.

obliterating

Suggests complete removal or erasure, leaving no trace behind.

devastating

Highlights the widespread and catastrophic damage inflicted upon something.

razing

Focuses on the leveling or complete destruction of buildings or structures.

annihilating

Implies total destruction, often used in the context of living beings or abstract concepts.

eradicating

Suggests the systematic removal or elimination of something undesirable.

dismantling

Emphasizes the breaking down or taking apart of something, often a system or organization.

FAQs

How is "destroying" typically used in a sentence?

The word "destroying" functions as a verb, typically in the present participle form, indicating an ongoing action of causing severe damage or ruin. For example: "The fire is destroying the forest."

What are some alternatives to "destroying"?

You can use alternatives like "ruining", "demolishing", or "obliterating", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "destroying" in formal writing?

Yes, "destroying" is appropriate for formal writing when the context involves significant damage or ruin. However, consider the specific nuance needed and whether a more precise term like "devastating" or "annihilating" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "destroying" and "damaging"?

"Destroying" implies complete or near-complete ruin, whereas "damaging" suggests partial or less severe harm. A building can be damaged by a small fire, but it's only "destroying" it if the fire consumes most of the structure.