destructive passage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "destructive passage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a section of text, a journey, or an event that causes harm or damage in some way. Example: "The novel's destructive passage highlighted the consequences of war on innocent lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Writing about the hurricane in our pages later that year, John T. Winterich gave this summary of it destructive passage: Fire Island received the full force of the gale first.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There were passages of destructive attacking play from England and some robust defence, but it was difficult to read too much into a contest against a hastily-assembled Exiles team.

BBC

He separates the dancer, corns and all, from the dance, most notably in passages in Yeats's life where arrogance, windy mysticism and destructive self-indulgence seemed to prevail yet extraordinary poems were written.

The New York Times - Books

They are archetypes, but their emotions and weaknesses — destructive self-righteousness is universal in "Khovanshchina" — come to life in music of shining grandeur that recedes to passages of disarming delicacy.

The New York Times - Arts

Destructive: constructive.

Independent

Clinically destructive.

The Guardian - Sport

It is destructive.

The New Yorker

It's economically destructive".

The New York Times

It's destructive".

The New York Times

And destructive as well.

The New York Times - Books

That is hugely destructive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "destructive passage", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being destroyed or negatively impacted. The phrase is effective when emphasizing the consequences of an event or period.

Common error

Avoid using "destructive passage" in situations where the level of damage is minimal or not significant. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "destructive passage" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, describing a period, journey, or part of a text characterized by significant damage or destruction. Ludwig shows that it's used to emphasize the harmful impact of the noun it modifies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "destructive passage" is used to describe a period, event, or section characterized by significant damage or ruin. Ludwig confirms its proper usage, primarily in formal contexts such as news and media. While grammatically correct and easily understood, this phrase is relatively rare. When using "destructive passage", ensure that the context clearly indicates the subject causing the damage. Alternative phrases, such as "devastating period" or "ruinous episode", can provide similar meanings with slightly different emphases. Avoiding overuse in overly dramatic situations will help to maintain the phrase's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastating period

Replaces "passage" with "period", emphasizing a span of time marked by devastation.

ruinous episode

Substitutes "destructive" with "ruinous" and "passage" with "episode", focusing on the disastrous nature of a specific event.

calamitous phase

Uses "calamitous" to highlight the disastrous quality and "phase" to denote a stage in a process.

harmful chapter

Replaces "destructive" with "harmful" and "passage" with "chapter", indicating a damaging part of a larger narrative.

detrimental stage

Employs "detrimental" to emphasize the negative impact and "stage" to refer to a specific point in a process.

damaging segment

Uses "damaging" as a direct synonym for "destructive" and "segment" to suggest a portion of something.

adverse event

Replaces "destructive passage" with a more general term emphasizing a negative occurrence.

disastrous course

Emphasizes the catastrophic nature of a progression or path.

catastrophic sequence

Highlights the disastrous nature of a series of events.

unfortunate turn

Replaces with a milder expression indicating an undesirable change or development.

FAQs

How can I use "destructive passage" in a sentence?

You can use "destructive passage" to describe a period or event characterized by significant damage or ruin. For example: "The hurricane's "destructive passage" left many towns in ruins".

What are some alternatives to "destructive passage"?

Alternatives include "devastating period", "ruinous episode", or "calamitous phase", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "destructive passage" a formal or informal phrase?

"Destructive passage" leans towards a more formal register, often found in news reporting and historical accounts, but can be adapted to other contexts where emphasis on damage or ruin is required.

What is the difference between "destructive passage" and "violent episode"?

"Destructive passage" emphasizes the damage caused over a period or journey, whereas "violent episode" focuses on a singular event involving violence. The former implies prolonged or widespread harm, while the latter indicates a specific act of violence.