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 of devastate

• ravage
• destroy

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

Building stronger ocean protections California suffered from the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, a catastrophe that devastated coastal ecosystems and marine life. —Chaewon Chung updated January 6, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026

Scenario two is that Harbaugh is leveraging the Giants’ rabid interest but ultimately could take a different job, devastating this desperate fan base. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected. —Jake Scott, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires — which devastated neighborhoods across Los Angeles County, including Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena — burned for 31 days before being fully contained. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for devastate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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