devoured by fire

USAGE SUMMARY

"devoured by fire" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has been completely consumed or destroyed by flames. Example: The old barn was devoured by fire, leaving only ashes behind. Alternative expressions include "consumed by flames" and "engulfed in fire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The exterior and much of the interior had been devoured by fire.

The New York Times

The world is going to be devoured by fire.

Huffington Post

Her home of 25 years in nearby Crestline was devoured by fire.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Today, twice as much land in Canada is being devoured by fires as in the 1970s and that will double or quadruple again in the decades to come.

The Guardian

Imagine such a corpse a prey to flames, devoured by the fire of burning brimstone..

The Guardian - Books

About 30 houses and a five-star hotel have been devoured by the fire.

The Guardian

The fears of terrorism received an extra boost from the disruption of communications and news as facilities were devoured by the fire.

Wikipedia

The imposter John of Leyden, who wore a false but very stylish crown in Giacomo Meyerbeer's "Le Prophete," was devoured by flames in a fire that he set himself.

The New York Times

Pioneer Square is a historic neighborhood containing some of Seattle's oldest architecture, a mix of four-to-five-story brick buildings (original wood structures were devoured by the Great Seattle Fire in 1899).

The New York Times

Then there are Janice and Thomas Carr, whose camper caught fire and was quickly devoured by the Notch 10 years ago.

The New York Times

As the relationship between Jean-Jacques Rousseau and David Hume unraveled, a volley of rancorous letters was fired off, then quickly published and devoured by aristocrats, intellectuals, and common readers alike.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with inanimate objects or structures like "forests", "homes" or "libraries" to highlight the tragedy of the loss.

Common error

Avoid saying "devoured in fire" when you mean the fire was the cause of the destruction. Use the preposition "by" to correctly identify the fire as the agent performing the action. "In fire" typically suggests location rather than the specific cause of the total consumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoured by fire" serves as a passive verb phrase where "devoured" is the past participle of the verb "devour" and "fire" is the agent in a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe the total and violent destruction of an entity. It functions effectively to personify the fire, giving it a sense of hunger or intent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki & Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devoured by fire" is a grammatically correct and powerful expression used to describe total destruction. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in high-authority news sources like The New York Times and The Guardian to add a descriptive, almost personified weight to reports of fire damage. While its exact frequency is Rare, its variations such as "devoured by flames" or "devoured by the fire" are common in literature and journalism. It is best used when the writer wishes to emphasize the overwhelming nature of the blaze. For more literal or scientific reports, use more precise terms like "incinerated" or "destroyed". Overall, it remains a high-quality choice for evocative storytelling and descriptive reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consumed by flames

The most direct and common synonymous expression used in similar formal contexts.

engulfed in fire

Emphasizes the state of being surrounded or covered by fire rather than just the result of destruction.

swallowed by flames

Maintains the metaphorical personification found in the original phrase.

razed by fire

Specifically refers to structures or buildings being leveled to the ground.

gutted by fire

Describes a building where the interior has been destroyed while the outer shell remains.

destroyed by fire

A literal and more neutral alternative that lacks the dramatic intensity of the original.

lost to the flames

Carries a more emotional or poetic tone, often used for irreplaceable items or history.

incinerated

A single-word formal alternative that implies reduction to ash.

decimated by fire

Implies large-scale destruction, though strictly it refers to the removal of one-tenth.

burnt to the ground

An idiomatic expression emphasizing total collapse of a structure.

FAQs

How to use "devoured by fire" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe something completely destroyed, such as: "The ancient wooden temple was quickly devoured by fire before rescuers arrived."

What can I say instead of "devoured by fire"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/consumed+by+flames" target="_blank" rel="alternative">consumed by flames", "<a href="/s/engulfed+in+fire" target="_blank" rel="alternative">engulfed in fire" or "<a href="/s/razed+by+fire" target="_blank" rel="alternative">razed by fire" depending on the context.

Is "devoured by fire" considered formal?

Yes, it is common in journalism and literature. However, for a more neutral tone, you might prefer "<a href="/s/destroyed+by+fire" target="_blank" rel="alternative">destroyed by fire".

Can I use "devoured by fire" for metaphorical destruction?

Absolutely. It is often used figuratively to describe intense passion or external forces, much like being "<a href="/s/consumed+by+ambition" target="_blank" rel="alternative">consumed by ambition".