devastating events

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devastating events" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe occurrences that have a severe negative impact, often in contexts related to disasters, tragedies, or significant crises. Example: "The community is still recovering from the devastating events that unfolded last summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, if we don't want to be subject again to devastating events in the markets and their even more devastating political consequences, we will need to pay close attention.

The New Yorker

Florence reminds us that even devastating events can yield surprising benefits.

Harvard Business Review

The main problem with improvisation occur when its consequences are ignored and cannot be predictable, once it can lead to devastating events.

Procedia Manufacturing

Sereni's life (1913-1983) spannedevastatingng events in European and Italian history, including two world wars, and he spent two years as a prisoner of war in Algeria.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lawrence Vale, SM '88, and Thomas Campanella, PhD '98, have compiled studies that explore how cities rebuild and recover after devastating events.

MIT Technology Review

Devastating events such as the 9/11 attacks, as well as the London and Madrid bombings have magnified the need for enhancement in security, particularly in areas of high civilian density.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

The binding of amyloid beta peptides to prion proteins triggers a cascade of devastating events in the progression of Alzheimer's — accumulation of plaques, a destructive immune system response, and damage to synapses.

Yale University

However, experience has shown that during rescue operations after devastating events, several technology inefficiencies have made communication between the rescuers problematic.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

One of the first assessments of rapid, long-distance dispersal, the effort reinforces that plant communities can recover from devastating events.

Science Magazine

As we've recently discovered on EastEnders, prejudice and discrimination towards LGBT people still exists - and it can lead to devastating events.

BBC

In the realm of action, devastating events like war and conquest can ultimately unite scattered groups of people and ameliorate political organization (Turgot 1751, 71 2; Condorcet 1795, 51).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the aftermath of a disaster, use "devastating events" to effectively convey the scale and impact of the situation. For example, "The community is still recovering from the "devastating events" of the hurricane."

Common error

Avoid using "devastating events" in contexts that are only mildly negative or dramatic. Reserving the phrase for truly significant crises maintains its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devastating events" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing occurrences that cause widespread damage and suffering. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devastating events" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe occurrences with severe negative impacts. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is correct and usable in written English. It appears most commonly in news, scientific, and academic contexts, conveying the magnitude of disasters, tragedies, or significant crises. While the phrase is appropriate for various registers, it’s best to reserve it for situations where the impact is genuinely severe. Alternatives include "catastrophic occurrences" and "tragic incidents", which offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. It is important to avoid sensationalizing events that are only mildly negative. High-quality sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catastrophic occurrences

Replaces "devastating" with "catastrophic" which suggests a more widespread impact.

tragic incidents

Substitutes "devastating" with "tragic", focusing on the emotional impact and sorrow associated with the events.

calamitous situations

Uses "calamitous" to highlight the disastrous and unfortunate nature of the events.

grievous episodes

Emphasizes the severity and painful aspect of the events using "grievous".

ruinous affairs

Highlights the destructive consequences of the events using "ruinous".

disastrous circumstances

Focuses on the unfortunate and harmful conditions surrounding the events.

cataclysmic happenings

Suggests a sudden and violent upheaval using "cataclysmic".

unfortunate tragedies

Combines "unfortunate" to express bad luck with "tragedies" to denote serious and sad events.

tragic circumstances

Focuses on the sad and unfortunate conditions that characterize the events.

dire occurrences

Uses "dire" to emphasize the extremely serious or urgent nature of the events.

FAQs

How can I use "devastating events" in a sentence?

You can use "devastating events" to describe incidents that cause significant damage or suffering. For instance, "The flood was one of the most "devastating events" in the region's history."

What can I say instead of "devastating events"?

You can use alternatives like "catastrophic occurrences", "tragic incidents", or "calamitous situations" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "devastating events" and "unfortunate incidents"?

"Devastating events" implies a high degree of damage and suffering, while "unfortunate incidents" suggests a milder level of adversity. Use "devastating" when the impact is severe.

Are "devastating events" only related to natural disasters?

No, "devastating events" can refer to any occurrence that causes significant harm, whether natural (like earthquakes) or man-made (like wars or "terrorist attacks").