destruction
gb/dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/ us/dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
B1
Inglés
~ 5300
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
action
1
act or result of ruining completely
The act or process of breaking or damaging something so much that it cannot be used, fixed, or kept.
Patrón de uso:
the destruction of [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners often use *destruction* when they only mean light or partial damage. *Destruction* suggests that something is ruined or cannot be used or saved anymore, while *damage* can be smaller and not final. Also, *destruction* is usually uncountable (we say *a lot of destruction*, not *many destructions* in normal use).
Sinónimos
devastation (Often emphasizes very great physical damage, especially to land, buildings, or communities.)
|
ruin (Can refer to both physical and non-physical damage; slightly broader and sometimes less absolute than destruction.)
|
demolition (Usually planned and controlled destruction of buildings or structures.)
Antónimos
preservation (Focuses on keeping something in good condition and preventing damage or destruction.)
|
protection (Emphasizes actively keeping something safe from damage or destruction.)
Colocaciones
cause destruction
|widespread destruction
|total destruction
|mass destruction
|the destruction of the environment
|path of destruction
Temas
war
|disaster
|environment
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The earthquake caused widespread destruction across the region.
- Years of war have led to the destruction of the city’s historic center.
- The wildfire left a path of destruction through the forest.
- We must act now to stop the destruction of the rainforest.
- The explosion resulted in the total destruction of the factory.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The storm caused great destruction in the town.
- Fire can bring destruction to homes and forests.
- They want to stop the destruction of old buildings in the city.
- The war led to the destruction of many villages.
- Pollution is slowly causing the destruction of sea life.
Sustantivo
literary
C1
entity
2
cause of someone’s ruin or death
Something that makes a person’s life, success, or health completely fail, often because of what that person does.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is [someone]’s destruction
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes try to use this meaning in very casual situations where it sounds too strong or dramatic. For example, saying *Chocolate is my destruction* in a serious context may sound exaggerated or humorous rather than literal.
Sinónimos
downfall (Common in this abstract sense; focuses on the loss of power, success, or good position rather than physical death.)
Antónimos
salvation (Suggests being saved from ruin, failure, or death; often used in moral, religious, or dramatic contexts.)
Colocaciones
be the destruction of [someone]
|lead to [someone]’s destruction
|cause [someone]’s destruction
|[someone] finds their own destruction
Temas
life
|morality
|health
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- In the novel, his pride is ultimately his destruction.
- Her addiction to gambling was the destruction of her career and family life.
- He knew that continuing down this path would mean his own destruction.
- Their greed became the company’s destruction in the end.
- The poet warns that anger can be a person’s destruction if left unchecked.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Alcohol was his destruction; he lost his job and family.
- His love of risk may be his destruction one day.
- The leader’s lies were the destruction of his good name.
- Some people say that hate is our destruction.
- Their own choices brought about their destruction.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
destruction
AFI
GB/dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
US/dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
Sílabas y acento
de - struc - tion (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (struc)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: destruction
- Plural: destruction, destructions
Familia de palabras
Forms
destructions
noun
Core family
destroy
verb B1
destructive
adjective B1
Related words
destroyer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
indestructible
adjective
Advanced or less common
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
Expresiones
a path of destruction
1/ə pˈæθ əv dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
line of heavy damage
An area that has been badly damaged in a line or track by something like a storm, fire, or army as it moved through.
Ejemplos
- The tornado cut a path of destruction through three towns.
- The army left a path of destruction behind it as it advanced.
- Satellite images showed a clear path of destruction after the hurricane.
a trail of destruction
1/ə tɹˈeɪl əv dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
series of places badly damaged
Many damaged places left behind in the line where something has moved, such as a storm, riot, or violent group.
Ejemplos
- The rioters left a trail of destruction through the city center.
- The typhoon carved a trail of destruction along the coast.
- The bombings created a trail of destruction that stretched for miles.
leave a trail of destruction
1/lˈiv ə tɹˈeɪl əv dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
idiom
move while causing much damage
To go through an area and cause serious damage in many places as you go.
Ejemplos
- The storm left a trail of destruction across the island.
- The invading forces left a trail of destruction wherever they passed.
- Hackers can leave a trail of destruction in company computer systems if security is weak.
mutually assured destruction
1/mjˈut͡ʃuəli əʃˈʊɹd dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
nuclear standoff where both lose
A situation in which two or more countries all have enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, so using them would mean everyone is destroyed.
Ejemplos
- During the Cold War, mutually assured destruction was seen as a way to prevent nuclear war.
- The strategy of mutually assured destruction relies on both sides fearing total loss.
- Some experts say that mutually assured destruction is less stable in a world with more nuclear states.
weapons of mass destruction
1/wˈɛpənz əv mˈæs dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
very powerful, wide-area weapons
Nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons that can kill a very large number of people and destroy big areas at once.
Ejemplos
- The treaty bans the production of weapons of mass destruction.
- They were accused of secretly developing weapons of mass destruction.
- Fear of weapons of mass destruction shaped international policy for many years.