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
Olga Isaza, the UNICEF representative for Kingston, Jamaica, spoke about the struggles at least 250,000 children will have to face after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island.
—
Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
In drone footage first posted by Reuters, the fishing village of Alligator Pond, Jamaica, is seen devastated, with buildings, boats and homes close to the coast impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Roxie Touchstone, a member of the McGovern Park Senior Center, said her community has been devastated by the center's closure.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Hurricane Melissa has left many lives devastated in the tropics this week.
—Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
In drone footage first posted by Reuters, the fishing village of Alligator Pond, Jamaica, is seen devastated, with buildings, boats and homes close to the coast impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Roxie Touchstone, a member of the McGovern Park Senior Center, said her community has been devastated by the center's closure.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Hurricane Melissa has left many lives devastated in the tropics this week.
—Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Verb
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San Francisco lost Nick Bosa earlier in the season, and its defense has been ravaged by injuries in general.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Hurricane Melissa, currently ravaging the Caribbean, is a perfect example of why climate adaptation finance is so badly needed.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Teddy is a conspiracy theorist who believes Michelle is an alien hellbent on destroying Earth.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Those skills will likely overwhelm just about every competitor this trio faces this season.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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And even if a few curve balls come in, that doesn’t necessarily overwhelm me.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Because when those premiums go up by 100, 200%, people’s lives are ruined.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Conversely, poor initial AI experiences create resistance that’s difficult to overcome.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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The researchers overcame this by using molecular beam epitaxy, a precise technique for growing ultra-thin crystal layers.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump exposed a 'loophole' to demolish the White House East Wing.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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The ballroom project has stirred controversy, as the East Wing, home of the First Lady’s staff and long a grand entrance for White House events, was demolished to make room for the new ballroom.—
Kate Wolffe
October 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even if a dish is marked safe for use in the oven, if heated beyond a certain temperature, or if a broil setting is used, glass can shatter.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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The strength to sit with what shattered before building what’s next.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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In 1816 the stratosphere was saturated with Tambora’s dust, and sea ice nearly wrecked Scoresby’s ship off the eastern coast of Greenland.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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