1
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the explosion devastated an entire city block
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastate
Flea beetles, in particular, will devastate young eggplants, says Kathy Jentz, host of the GardenDC Podcast.
—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005, the city worked quickly to clean up the beach, restoring the sand to its former soft and white glory.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Christina Hansen, a representative of TWU Local 100, said Mahajan's death devastated the industry.
—
Aziza Shuler,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Cancer can devastate families and communities, both emotionally and economically.
—
Arthur Cosby,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005, the city worked quickly to clean up the beach, restoring the sand to its former soft and white glory.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Christina Hansen, a representative of TWU Local 100, said Mahajan's death devastated the industry.
—
Aziza Shuler,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Cancer can devastate families and communities, both emotionally and economically.
—
Arthur Cosby,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Verb
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The tree’s limbs were lopped off in the wake of January 2025’s Eaton fire, which ravaged Altadena and part of Pasadena, but all these months after the fire, there’s new growth on the tree.
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Matthew Tkachuk, who has been a franchise-altering player since Florida acquired him in July 2022, has already won twice with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025 before injuries ravaged Florida’s 2025-26 season.
Verb
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Both victims died in separate mobile homes that were destroyed about two to three miles apart, Bullard said.
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If Iran’s atomic weapons infrastructure was destroyed in this war, funneling hundreds of billions into the country can’t be used to rebuild it.
Verb
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Cold water shock impairs breathing and can overwhelm even strong swimmers within seconds.
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Along the highway linking Caracas to the coast, streams of civilians carried water, food, and medicine toward La Guaira on foot and by motorcycle, stepping in as the scale of the disaster overwhelmed the official effort.
Verb
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Don't Worry Too Much About Saltwater Or Chlorine Many people assume a quick swim in the ocean or pool will ruin their sunglasses.
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Could the Boston Celtics or another team ruin the Heat’s plan, swooping in and trading for Antetokounmpo this offseason and getting a long-term commitment from him?
Verb
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Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
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Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
Verb
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Nationally, many facilities of that time have since been demolished as housing policies evolved, but New Britain’s housing authority kept the roughly 250-unit Mount Pleasant and now operates it as its oldest property.
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Ryan Blank, who lives in the Manor Avenue neighborhood, hung out with his neighbors across the street from the house that got demolished by a tree.
Verb
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Many windows are shattered or boarded over with decaying plywood.
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Hundreds of records have already been shattered, with more expected as the heat intensifies today through Thursday.
Verb
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My polishing pads are always getting wrecked, used, or stolen by my dog (or all of those things).
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As many little heartbeats as possible, just running around, wrecking stuff in the house.
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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