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
Matt Gutman, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Alivea Goncalves, the eldest sister of Moscow victim Kaylee Goncalves, explained during testimony to the Senate committee last week that she was devastated by the injuries to her sister.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 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
Residents and volunteers work on cleaning up after the Kona Low storm flood that devastated the Otake Camp community in Waialua, Hawaii, on March 22, 2026.
—Matt Gutman, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Alivea Goncalves, the eldest sister of Moscow victim Kaylee Goncalves, explained during testimony to the Senate committee last week that she was devastated by the injuries to her sister.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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Resident Dave Levy said his basement continues to be ravaged by floods on and off over the past five years.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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One person died after a fire ravaged a Harlem apartment building on Sunday, according to the FDNY.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First Baptist Dallas will break ground on its new sanctuary on Sunday, June 7, after a massive fire destroyed the church's 134-year-old sanctuary in the summer of 2024, the church announced on Sunday.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her husband said in a statement the family is overwhelmed by community support as the search intensifies.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, the Gophers — making their first NCAA tournament since 2018, and first Sweet 16 since 2005 — were overwhelmed by their Big Ten rival’s size and experience.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 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 Front Range shattered it by 22,913 patrons.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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The next day, an explosion shattered the glass-and-marble lobby of the Bank of America building in New York.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In San Francisco, the wrecked husk of the Golden Gate Bridge looms in the background as a perpetual reminder that this isn’t quite our history.—
Zaki Hasan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
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Helicopter footage showed the man darting out from the wrecked Charger in a black T-shirt and white shorts.—
Jacob Beltran,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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It was demolished to make way for a 7,000 square-foot gallery that opened in April 2022 at MCASD.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The building appears to have been demolished with twisted metal, bricks and other debris littering the site.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Keep damaged plants moist and apply fertilizer as growth resumes.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
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Tehran province, with more than 50 damaged sites, topped the list in terms of losses, Seyyed Ahmad Alavi said in a message on Telegram.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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