devastating
adjective
dev·as·tat·ing
ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiŋ 
1
: causing great damage or harm
a devastating flood/earthquake
a devastating injury
A devastating coastal tsunami could also result from a severe displacement of the San Andreas Fault.—
Gary Sandquist
Gary Sandquist2
: causing extreme emotional pain
a devastating loss
Even the most banal domestic melodramas, readers come to understand, are experienced as devastating tragedies by children living them for the first time.—Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly3
: extremely effective or powerful
a devastating satire
He had a devastating wit and an utter contempt for shoddy work in physics.—Jeremy Bernstein
Jeremy Bernstein
devastatingly
adverb
Some people recover readily from the infection, but in others it becomes disseminated, spreading rapidly and devastatingly from lungs to bones, skin and nervous system
—Lawrence Galton
Lawrence Galton
Postcards from the Edge is a devastatingly savvy, bitingly funny, yet sad movie based on Carrie Fisher's autobiographical novel about Hollywood.
—Jeffrey Lyons
Jeffrey Lyons
… is portrayed as a devastatingly effective power broker in the Senate.
—Alan Brinkley
Alan Brinkley
Synonyms
Examples of devastating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenifer Lewis spent a year recovering from a devastating 10-foot fall while on safari in Tanzania.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Yet as the authors of this provocative critique suggest, sanctions can often be equally devastating.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Like others in Europe, Schumpeter had seen the devastating effects of inflation.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Apr. 2024
Fentanyl and methamphetamine have been especially devastating.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Two students, who created a plan for mayhem, launched a devastating attack inside a school – once considered a safe and protected space – the likes of which our nation and the world had never seen before.
—Donald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2024
Read Next This Boise State QB is focused on getting back on the field after ‘devastating’ injury
April 11, 2024 5:09 PM
The Broncos are looking for a replacement for former starting quarterback Taylen Green, who transferred to Arkansas last December and has won the Razorbacks’ starting job.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2024
The second part examined the devastating aftermath of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, the grinding machinery of recovery under FEMA and the state of rebuilding efforts.
—Connor Goodwin, ProPublica, 19 Apr. 2024
Lopez said her husband suffered a devastating head injury.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Michael Schneider, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Yet as the authors of this provocative critique suggest, sanctions can often be equally devastating.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Like others in Europe, Schumpeter had seen the devastating effects of inflation.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Apr. 2024
Fentanyl and methamphetamine have been especially devastating.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Two students, who created a plan for mayhem, launched a devastating attack inside a school – once considered a safe and protected space – the likes of which our nation and the world had never seen before.
—Donald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2024
Read Next This Boise State QB is focused on getting back on the field after ‘devastating’ injury
April 11, 2024 5:09 PM
The Broncos are looking for a replacement for former starting quarterback Taylen Green, who transferred to Arkansas last December and has won the Razorbacks’ starting job.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2024
The second part examined the devastating aftermath of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, the grinding machinery of recovery under FEMA and the state of rebuilding efforts.
—Connor Goodwin, ProPublica, 19 Apr. 2024
Lopez said her husband suffered a devastating head injury.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'devastating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devastating. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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