was rendered unusable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was rendered unusable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has become incapable of being used or functional due to damage or other factors. Example: "After the storm, the equipment was rendered unusable, and we had to replace it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

A fifth of the farmland in Belarus was rendered unusable, and still accounts for seven hundred million dollars in losses each year.

The New Yorker

Shortly afterward, a police command post two blocks north, at 75 Barclay Street, was rendered unusable by the crashing rubble of a collapsing tower.

The New York Times

Each polling place that was rendered unusable by the storm has been replaced with an alternate location, and voters who want to participate in their full slate of races can do so at the alternate location.

The New York Times

It has been a stranger, bumpier journey than anyone could have imagined, starting with Hurricane Sandy wiping out the Nets' home opener and flooding their New Jersey training center, which was rendered unusable for eight weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

Just 24 days after it had last hosted a one-day international, the city's rugby and cricket stadium, Lancaster Park, was rendered unusable by the damage to the stands and ground; it is now among the long queue of buildings scheduled to be demolished.

Independent

My inbox was rendered unusable by the volume of these solicitations.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Instead, these areas have been rendered unusable by the addition of a decorative railing.

Independent

The facilities where Kurosu trains were rendered unusable by the earthquake.

The New York Times - Sports

Pollution, as much as skimpy supply, has been blamed for the immediate crisis because much water has been rendered unusable.

The New York Times

The elevator cars, which were rendered unusable when the elevator shafts flooded, may have to be redesigned.

The New York Times

The main hospital, built to withstand earthquakes, had been rendered unusable, and the closest alternative was almost 90 miles away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was rendered unusable" when you want to emphasize that something was functional but is no longer so due to a specific event or cause. For example, "The flood was so intense that the first floor of the building was rendered unusable."

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in the active voice, as it typically describes a passive situation. Instead of saying "The storm rendered the bridge unusable", use the passive form: "The bridge was rendered unusable by the storm."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was rendered unusable" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that a subject has been made incapable of being used or functional due to some external cause. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction emphasizes the resultant state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

22%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was rendered unusable" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a passive construction, denoting that something has lost its functionality due to an external cause. While generally neutral in register, its appearance is more common in news, media, and wiki-based sources. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize the resultant state of an object or system after an event has made it no longer functional. Consider alternatives such as "became inoperable" or "was disabled" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became inoperable

Focuses on the cessation of operation rather than the cause.

was made unserviceable

Implies a state where something can no longer be used or repaired, with a stronger emphasis on maintenance.

was rendered ineffective

Highlights a loss of effectiveness, which might not necessarily mean total unusability.

was put out of action

Indicates that something was deliberately stopped from working or being used.

ceased to function

Simply states that something stopped working, without specifying the cause.

became defunct

Indicates that something is no longer in use or existence, often applied to systems or organizations.

was incapacitated

Highlights a state of being unable to function, often due to damage or injury.

was disabled

Implies that something's function has been turned off or rendered non-operational.

was broken

A more general term indicating that something is not working correctly.

stopped working

A simple and direct way of saying that something no longer functions.

FAQs

What does "was rendered unusable" mean?

The phrase "was rendered unusable" means something was functional or in working condition but has since been made incapable of being used due to damage, destruction, or some other cause.

How can I use "was rendered unusable" in a sentence?

You can use "was rendered unusable" to describe objects, places, or systems that are no longer functional. For example: "The earthquake was so powerful that the hospital "was rendered unusable"."

What can I say instead of "was rendered unusable"?

You can use alternatives like "became inoperable", "was disabled", or "stopped working" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "was rendered unusable" and "became unusable"?

"Was rendered unusable" implies an action or event caused the item to become unusable, while "became unusable" simply states the item is no longer usable without specifying a direct cause.