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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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
Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Vital witnesses were killed in the blast All 16 people inside the facility died in the blast, leaving behind a devastated network of coworkers and loved ones as well as depriving investigators of crucial accounts of the final moments leading up to the explosion.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Jem Aswad, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
But this summer, I was stuck in North Carolina waiting on the paperwork for my official move to Italy this fall, and I was devastated—until my Italian fiancé booked his first-ever trip to America.
—Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Adjective
This looks like an attempt to clean up their devastated public image following the Federal Trade Commission’s strong BOTS Act and deceptive practices case against them.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Vital witnesses were killed in the blast All 16 people inside the facility died in the blast, leaving behind a devastated network of coworkers and loved ones as well as depriving investigators of crucial accounts of the final moments leading up to the explosion.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm last week and has left large areas of Jamaica completely devastated.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
But this summer, I was stuck in North Carolina waiting on the paperwork for my official move to Italy this fall, and I was devastated—until my Italian fiancé booked his first-ever trip to America.
—Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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In 1963, a fire ravaged the Hotel Del Mar and forced its permanent closure.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The area however had not been in use since 1995, when Hurricane Luis ravaged Mullet Bay, and no substantial repairs or development had been done since then, the complaint says.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Prendergast, whose team discovered the devilish bee in the area, said the sighting of the insect shows the importance of understanding bees before their habitats are destroyed.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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The Austrian painter’s record is expected to be shattered again by a monumental, six-foot-tall portrait of a young heiress that was looted by the Nazis and nearly destroyed during World War II.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The flood of people overwhelmed Bajo Chiquito, an impoverished community of 382 members of the Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Food banks nationwide are overwhelmed by surging demand, with long lines and limited supplies.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However her past experiences haven't ruined the actress' trips back home.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Many of those games have been thrillers and even wrecked seasons.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Oct. 2025
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Behind Sarnow and Common Council members, employees used equipment to lift a wrecked SUV with its left front side smashed in, a somber reminder of the devastation caused by reckless driving.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mamdani’s victory places him at the forefront of a global cohort of diaspora leaders who have shattered political ceilings in recent years.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In 2024, the abanonded LaGrave Field baseball stadium was demolished.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
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The tall high-rise buildings not demolished in Gaza City are seen in the far distance.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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While returning, naval ships conducted rapid ammunition replenishment and refueling at the base, while maintenance teams boarded the vessels to repair damaged equipment.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Older or damaged glassware is more prone to breakage, and items with a metallic trim can cause sparks, much like aluminum foil.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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