to wipe out - to take apart

[dilodi83]

Finally he managed to tear his enemies apart.
Finally he managed to wipe his enemies out.

Mankind is wiping many forests and woods out.
Mankind is tearing many forests and woods apart.

Are they all possible?
Do these two verbs "to tear apart" and "to wipe out" mean "to destroy"? Can we use them indifferently both for people and for things?

And what about "to kill off" with meaning of "to destroy something" or to "kill someone"?

 

[billmcd]

Finally he managed to tear his enemies apart.
Finally he managed to wipe his enemies out.

Mankind is wiping out many forests and woods [STRIKE]out[/STRIKE].
Mankind is tearing apart many forests and woods [STRIKE]apart[/STRIKE].

Are they all possible? Yes, but for me, some phrasal verbs sound better as inseparable as in your second set.

Do these two verbs "to tear apart" and "to wipe out" mean "to destroy"? Can we use them indifferently both for people and for things? I wouldn't use "tear apart" for people. And "tear apart" can mean "to damage".

And what about "to kill off" with meaning of "to destroy something" or to "kill someone"? OK

b.

 

[dilodi83]

b.

Thanks so much for your advice.
So also "to kill off one's enemies" and "to kill off many forests and woods" sound good, don't they?

to tear apart enemies
to kill off enemies
to wipe out enemies

These three mean to destroy them, to sterminate them.

to tear apart forests...
to kill off forests...
to wipe out forests...

These three mean to devastate, to eliminate, to destroy them thoroughly.

 

[billmcd]

Thanks so much for your advice.
So also "to kill off one's enemies" and "to kill off many forests and woods" sound good, don't they? Yes.

to tear apart enemies Could mean to injure severely.
to kill off enemies
to wipe out enemies

These three mean to destroy them, to exterminate them.

to tear apart forests...
to kill off forests...
to wipe out forests...

These three mean to devastate, to eliminate, to destroy them thoroughly. Yes.[QUOTE]

b.