Synonyms of devastate

devastate

verb

ˈde-və-ˌstāt 

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

• ravage
• destroy
• ruin
• scourge
• overwhelm
• plunder
• obliterate
• despoil
• shatter
• wreck
• decimate
• eradicate
• desolate
• sack
• annihilate
• pillage
• vaporize
• demolish
• extirpate
• expunge
• strip
• extinguish
• wipe out
• loot
• waste
• smash
• total
• harry
• maraud
• overpower
• raze
• mow
• wrack
• nuke
• overrun
• overthrow
• foray
• rub out
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• restore
• rehabilitate
• redeem
• repair
• fix
• recondition
• patch
• mend
• revamp

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

• destroy
• ruin
• demolish
• shatter
• wreck
• smash
• overcome
• damage
• decimate
• ravage
• annihilate
• erode
• waste
• cripple
• desolate
• vaporize
• pulverize
• extinguish
• raze
• mar
• kill
• tear down
• total
• dismantle
• injure
• cream
• defeat
• crush
• pull down
• wrack
• rub out
• nuke
• subdue
• do in
• impair
• best
• break
• spoil
• remove
• harm
• blast
• disfigure
• conquer
• disintegrate
• deteriorate
• surmount
• obliterate
• mutilate
• eradicate
• win (against)
• rout
• prevail (over)
• vitiate
• lick
• dissolve
• triumph (over)
• trim
• master
• mangle
• deface
• undo
• exterminate
• assassinate
• despoil
• scour
• dynamite
• thrash
• clobber
• slaughter
• sweep (away)
• trounce
• beat
• havoc
• overbear
• whip
• extirpate
• liquidate
• trample
• wear (away)
• unmake
• expunge
• blow up
• slay
• overmatch
• gut
• fell
• plunder
• scotch
• disassemble
• efface
• sack
• pillage
• wash out
• wipe out
• wallop
• execute
• take down
• cut down
• massacre
• blot out
• murder
• drub
• dilapidate
• vandalize
• stamp (out)
• loot
• root (out)
• zap
• snuff (out)
• butcher
• kill off
• dispatch
• mow (down)
• unbuild
• take out
• skunk
• trash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• raise
• create
• set up
• erect
• repair
• fix
• put up
• make
• produce
• patch
• rear
• protect
• mend
• invent
• establish
• constitute
• found
• form
• manufacture
• preserve
• shape
• assemble
• save
• organize
• forge
• revamp
• bring about
• fabricate
• recondition
• restore
• mold
• conserve
• frame
• institute
• fashion
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• doctor
• father
• renovate
• remodel

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

• overwhelm
• overcome
• oppress
• crush
• overpower
• disturb
• grind (down)
• swamp
• floor
• drown
• prostrate
• whelm
• rock
• overmaster
• shatter
• defeat
• snow under
• upset
• sink
• refute
• distress
• demoralize
• throw
• stagger
• unnerve
• deluge
• confute
• break
• unman

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb devastate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of devastate are despoil, pillage, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

In what contexts can despoil take the place of devastate?

While the synonyms despoil and devastate are close in meaning, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of devastate?

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

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When would ravage be a good substitute for devastate?

The words ravage and devastate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to devastate?

Although the words sack and devastate have much in common, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

When is waste a more appropriate choice than devastate?

While in some cases nearly identical to devastate, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of devastate

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

Morganton was among many mountain towns devastated when the remnants of Hurricane Helene dumped 30 inches of rain on western North Carolina. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026