devastate

verb

dev·​as·​tate ˈde-və-ˌstāt 

devastated; devastating

transitive verb

1

: to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action

a country devastated by war

The typhoon devastated the island.

2

: to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : overwhelm

devastated by grief

Her wisecrack devastated the class.

devastation

ˌde-və-ˈstā-shən 

noun

devastative

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiv 

adjective

devastator

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• destroy
• ravage
• ruin
• scourge

Choose the Right Synonym for devastate

ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying.

ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Examples of devastate in a Sentence

The flood devastated the town.

The disease has devastated the area's oak tree population.

The hurricane left the island completely devastated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nasser Hospital, the main medical site in the city, was still standing, but barely, its interior devastated. —Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024

Last year, preservation-minded fans of midcentury modern architecture were devastated when another one of L.A.’s historic gems was surreptitiously demolished with little warning. —James McClain, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024

The Mountain House community is devastated by his loss. —David Chiu, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

When an earthquake devastates a city, information can be in short supply. —IEEE Spectrum, 4 Apr. 2024

Unless Congress adds more money, that level of funding would devastate the program, researchers say; not only would new instruments not be added, but buoys that have been measuring data for years would literally get pulled out of the water. —Ella Nilsen, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024

The Gaza region has been devastated by violence and bombings since Oct. 7, when terrorist attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas set off war with Israel. —Michaela Zee, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

Recently, a life insurance customer was devastated at the prospect of missing her monthly payment. —Allison Arzeno, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Williams and Morrow were two of the four people who died when an EF3 tornado devastated much of Wynne on March 31, 2023. —Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin devastatus, past participle of devastare, from de- + vastare to lay waste — more at waste

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

devastate

verb

dev·​as·​tate ˈdev-ə-ˌstāt 

devastated; devastating

1

: to reduce to ruin : lay waste

2

: overwhelm sense 2, overpower

devastated by grief

devastatingly

-ˌstāt-iŋ-lē 

adverb

devastation

ˌdev-ə-ˈstā-shən 

noun