ødelægge

ødelægge is a Danish verb meaning to destroy, ruin, or spoil. It is a transitive verb, used with a direct object, and can refer to physical destruction as well as figurative harm to plans, systems, or reputations. The nuance is strong, often implying damage that is difficult or impossible to repair.

Conjugation and related forms: Infinitive is at ødelægge. Present tense is ødelægger. Past tense is ødelagde. The past participle or supine form used with have is ødelagt. The adjective form is ødelagt, as in et ødelagt hus. There is also the present participle ødelæggende, meaning destructive or ruinous.

Usage notes: ødelægge is typically used for substantial or complete damage rather than minor wear. It can describe concrete destruction (for example, equipment or a building) as well as abstract harm (such as plans, confidence, or a career). In figurative contexts, it often carries a strong negative connotation.

Examples: Danish: Det vil ødelægge vores planer. English: It will ruin our plans. Danish: Den dårlige beslutning ødelægger projektet. English: The poor decision ruins the project. Danish: Et ødelagt forhold kræver tid at reparere. English: A ruined relationship takes time to repair. The word also appears in phrases such as ødelæggende to describe something that is destructive.

See also: similar Danish verbs for damage and ruin, such as ødelægge and ruinere, and related adjectives like ødelagt and ødelæggende.