as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the sheer devastation of the housing development by the forest fire
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Recent Examples of devastation
AccuWeather expects the Western Caribbean to be the most vulnerable, especially following the devastation brought by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in 2025 to Jamaica and Cuba.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
The consequences of that sabotage added to the environmental devastation wreaked by the oil multinationals.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Because of that level of devastation, an international committee determined the name should not be used again.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Officials blamed some of the devastation on the sheer amount of rain that fell in a short amount of time.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
These objectives had absolutely nothing to do with any reasonable definition of Iranian national interest, and their pursuit brought only military devastation and economic misery to the country.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
The past year has seen the devastation of thousands of trees in Poway.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
After hearing of recent devastation from massive storms in Kankakee County last week, a group of Southland school districts and other leaders turned their concern into action.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
After watching the utter devastation wrought by Israel on Gaza, with much of the Palestinian territory transformed into an uninhabitable moonscape, many in Lebanon fear the IDF has similar plans for their country.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
The consequences of that sabotage added to the environmental devastation wreaked by the oil multinationals.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Because of that level of devastation, an international committee determined the name should not be used again.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Officials blamed some of the devastation on the sheer amount of rain that fell in a short amount of time.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
These objectives had absolutely nothing to do with any reasonable definition of Iranian national interest, and their pursuit brought only military devastation and economic misery to the country.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
The past year has seen the devastation of thousands of trees in Poway.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
After hearing of recent devastation from massive storms in Kankakee County last week, a group of Southland school districts and other leaders turned their concern into action.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
After watching the utter devastation wrought by Israel on Gaza, with much of the Palestinian territory transformed into an uninhabitable moonscape, many in Lebanon fear the IDF has similar plans for their country.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastation
Noun
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The Sacramento County Parks Department says there's been a big increase in vandalism and destruction of the nature preserve due to unauthorized use of off-road bicycles and e-bikes.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on.—
Ashlee Conour,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Working low to high, causing havoc on the forecheck, getting pucks back.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That’s high praise from one who has coached four Hall of Famers and several more who are destined to be so, but this team broke an eight-year championship drought last season and, despite the loss of superstar Paige Bueckers, didn’t skip a beat this year.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
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But the four losses to egregious tankers were inexcusable.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When Indigenous people were portrayed, they were typically depicted as anti-modern figures giving way to technology and fading away into extinction.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Mar. 2026
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Plains bison were nearly driven to extinction in the late 1800s, but collaboration among conservationists, organizations, and Native American communities has helped protect and conserve the species.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On Monday, cranes and demolition excavators tore down the exhibition hall closest to the Omni Hotel, dismembering parts of the building that will eventually unlock 20 to 30 acres for redevelopment and a new events facility.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Despite strong opposition, demolition is set to begin this week.—
Jennifer Bisram,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastation. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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