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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in destroyed
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastated
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
But lifting these restrictions alone will not be enough to save Gaza’s devastated population.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Authorities have arrested a man acccused of sparking the Palisades Fire that devastated parts of Los Angeles at the start of the year, leaving at least a dozen people dead and thousands without homes.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Verb
The visitors ended up massacring a village, which left her devastated.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
But lifting these restrictions alone will not be enough to save Gaza’s devastated population.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, accusing him of purposefully igniting a New Year’s Day fire that smoldered for days and later exploded into the deadly Palisades Fire that devastated California.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Authorities have arrested a man acccused of sparking the Palisades Fire that devastated parts of Los Angeles at the start of the year, leaving at least a dozen people dead and thousands without homes.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was federally charged for setting the blaze that eventually became the massive and deadly Palisades Fire, which ravaged coastal communities of Los Angeles County throughout the month of January.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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In places like Haiti, ravaged by gang violence, governance has almost all but collapsed.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though most of his property was destroyed in the fire, a carnival operator named Bunny Gibbons bought Gein's car and charged 25 cents for people to view it until authorities shut down the operation.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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The Gaza Strip itself has been nearly leveled, with the United Nations estimating 78% of structures having been damaged or destroyed, leaving a monumental task of rebuilding for whoever will govern the enclave next.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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She is overwhelmed by anger and lust, an alchemical compound that can alter matter, energy, laws of physics.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Phoenix lost by just three points in Game 1 and were overwhelmed 91-79 in Game 2.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a post on Reddit's Wedding Drama forum, the bride explained the stressful situation that nearly ruined her nuptials.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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After his umpteenth comeback, director Robert Altman almost immediately ruined his career again with this tepid, unwieldy multicharacter satire of the fashion world.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This summer, a Florida man stumbled on a wrecked vessel while fishing with his grandson – possibly a 19th-century ship designed to carry rum.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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And curiosity to see impact of no Tyreek Hill, out for year with wrecked knee just days after Panthers lost Barkov for season.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Both teams boast impressive defenses, but the Bills are coming off an embarrassing loss to a divisional rival last week that shattered hopes of an undefeated season.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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The Trojans may have shattered that superstition, improving to 7-5 all-time against the blue-blood Wolverines.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a group that represents mostly single-family homeowners and opposes nearby higher-density development, criticized the report for not tracking how many homes get demolished to make way for new projects.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
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It was finally demolished in 2008.—
Peter Carline,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In 2025, kids put their cards into clear resin or plastic containers to preserve and protect them from scratches or damaged corners.—
Mark Billingsley,
Sacbee.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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The museum was heavily damaged following a bombing that occurred on May 14, 1943.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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