has devoured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has devoured" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has consumed or destroyed something else, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The wildfire has devoured the entire forest, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tuberculosis has devoured them.

The Guardian

Form has devoured content, leaving only art behind.

The New York Times

"The dog has devoured my cantaloupe," she said melancholily.

The New York Times

No wonder the world's media has devoured this story.

The Guardian

It has devoured inner-city neighborhoods, sucked out their industries and sped the sprawl of suburbs.

The New York Times

She has devoured cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, and she can sprint in five-inch heels.

The New York Times

Locals describe how he has devoured fisherman after fisherman, swimmer after swimmer.

The New York Times

Gravity has pulled down its elevators and its bridges, plague has devoured its population.

The New Yorker

AMC's "The Walking Dead" has devoured the ratings, to the consternation of major networks, David Carr reports.

The New York Times

For the editors of this collection, that mythic life has devoured and dissolved Hemingway's actual work almost entirely.

The New York Times - Books

There are the heavy wood and leather stools, recognizable to anybody who has devoured a burrito at Gordo.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has devoured" to vividly describe something consuming something else completely, whether literally (e.g., a fire) or figuratively (e.g., ambition).

Common error

Avoid using "has devoured" excessively in highly formal or academic writing where a more neutral term like "has consumed" or "has depleted" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has devoured" functions as a perfect tense verb phrase, indicating a completed action of consuming something completely or destructively. Ludwig examples show it used both literally (fire devouring a forest) and figuratively (plague devouring a population).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has devoured" is a versatile phrase used to describe complete consumption or destruction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it can add vividness to writing, consider using more neutral alternatives in highly formal settings. Remember that "has devoured" implies a thorough and often destructive consumption, setting it apart from simpler alternatives like "has eaten".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has consumed

Focuses on complete consumption, often in a gradual or thorough manner.

has engulfed

Suggests a complete surrounding and overwhelming consumption or destruction.

has swallowed

Emphasizes the act of taking something in completely, often implying a disappearance.

has destroyed

Highlights the act of ruining or obliterating something.

has annihilated

Implies complete and utter destruction, leaving nothing behind.

has obliterated

Suggests the removal or erasure of something, often completely.

has eradicated

Emphasizes the complete elimination of something, often a problem or disease.

has decimated

Focuses on the severe reduction or destruction of something, typically a population or group.

has depleted

Implies the reduction of something to a very low level, often a resource or supply.

has exhausted

Suggests the complete use or consumption of something, leaving nothing remaining.

FAQs

How can "has devoured" be used in a sentence?

The phrase "has devoured" is used to express that something has completely consumed or destroyed something else. For example, "The forest fire "has devoured" everything in its path".

What are some alternatives to using "has devoured"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has consumed", "has engulfed", or "has swallowed" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "has devoured" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "has devoured" might be too vivid for some formal contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative like "has consumed" or "has depleted" in those situations.

What is the difference between "has devoured" and "has eaten"?

"Has eaten" is a more literal and straightforward way to describe the consumption of food. "Has devoured" implies a more ravenous, complete, and often destructive consumption, whether literal or figurative.