as in destroyed
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1
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruined
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the explosion devastated an entire city block
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastated
Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
In just a few hours, the closing announcement attracted hundreds of comments and shares from devastated loyal customers who said the pizza has been a mainstay at local events since their youth.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Another kind of typhus, carried by lice and caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, produced historic plagues that devastated populations during times of war, famine and poverty, the National Institutes for Health said.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Adjective
That the Fendons don’t think to immediately tell their devastated adult son, Harry (Craig Roberts), that his dad is still alive is only the first delightfully absurd wrinkle in this mischievous black comedy.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
In just a few hours, the closing announcement attracted hundreds of comments and shares from devastated loyal customers who said the pizza has been a mainstay at local events since their youth.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
His sudden death has devastated his family and fellow car enthusiasts.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Another kind of typhus, carried by lice and caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, produced historic plagues that devastated populations during times of war, famine and poverty, the National Institutes for Health said.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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Williams, of course, worked at NBC for nearly three decades, including an 11-year run at NBC Nightly News that ended 2015 after exaggerations and falsehoods were found in some of his reporting, including reports from Iraq, and from New Orleans after it had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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The latter saved my heat and humidity-ravaged hair, making the frizz and dryness vanish.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While in the region, Curiosity recently utilized its onboard Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, built to search for compounds of the element carbon that are associated with life and investigate ways in which these compounds are generated and destroyed in the Martian ecosphere.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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That investigation stemmed from a June 8, 1995, fire that destroyed a ValuJet DC-9 on a runway at Atlanta.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a refund isn't enough For people who are overwhelmed by debt or falling behind despite a refund, nonprofit credit counseling agencies can help.—
Joshua Sidorowicz,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Eilish then ran back into the crowd, overwhelmed with emotion.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The project offers an insightful look at Odom, a gifted athlete and former star on the Los Angeles Lakers whose championship career was shattered by multiple personal demons and addiction.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The impact shattered the glass door instantly, sending debris flying and abruptly ending the standoff.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The firefighters took three injured people out of the wrecked car.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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The wrecked car was overturned with the nude model sleeping inside—playing dead with help from a mild sedative.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But part of the deal involves the purchase of the adjacent Blue Cross and Blue Shield building (to be demolished) along with its parking.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
19 Apr. 2026
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Xfinity Mobile Arena, which broke ground in 1994 and opened in 1996, would be demolished once the new arena is completed.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In reality, its attacks killed civilians and damaged airports, power facilities, and water supplies across the Gulf.—
Nawaf M. Al-Thani,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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And Troy is quite damaged on the show.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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