vernietigd

Vernietigd is a Dutch word that functions as both the past participle and an adjective meaning destroyed or annihilated. It derives from the verb vernietigen, which means to destroy, annihilate, or ruin. The term describes something that has been brought to total ruin or made unusable, and it can be used literally (a gebouw, een stad) or figuratively (vernietigde plannen, vernietigde hoop).

In grammar, vernietigd is used in passive constructions to indicate completed destruction: Het gebouw is vernietigd; De stad werd vernietigd. It can also describe objects or situations that have suffered extensive damage, as in vernietigde gebouwen or vernietigde infrastructuur. The nuance tends to emphasize total or near-total destruction rather than partial damage, though in everyday language the boundary can be blurred.

Etymology-wise, the word comes from vernietigen, a native Dutch verb. The prefix ver- is a common Dutch modifier that often signals completion or intensification, and the term belongs to the Germanic language family.

Usage context and frequency show that vernietigd is common in news reports, historical accounts, and literary prose, especially in discussions of war, natural disasters, large-scale demolition, or serious accidents. It can appear in both literal and metaphorical contexts to convey a strong sense of ruin.

Related terms include vernietiging (destruction), vernietigen (to destroy), verwoesten, and ruïneren. Antonyms include behouden (to keep) and herstellen (to restore).