1
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devastated
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The county has joined with Charleston, South Carolina, more than 600 miles away, as backup centers for each other during outages – which can occur during disasters, like hurricanes – so devastated areas can still rely on 911.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Long Walk takes place in an alternate America in what looks like the ’60s or ’70s, one that’s been battered and economically devastated by an internal conflict.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Verb
Rocks from glacial terrains left bare by retreating ice, coral from the Great Barrier Reef, stones from islands facing rising sea levels, and other materials from devastated or threatened ecosystems are transformed into tiny objects of reflection, connection, prayer and renewal.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The county has joined with Charleston, South Carolina, more than 600 miles away, as backup centers for each other during outages – which can occur during disasters, like hurricanes – so devastated areas can still rely on 911.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The disaster is remembered not just for its winds, but for the crushing surge of water that devastated rural Louisiana parishes and tore through the heart of New Orleans.
—Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Long Walk takes place in an alternate America in what looks like the ’60s or ’70s, one that’s been battered and economically devastated by an internal conflict.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
-
The latest aftershocks follow two earthquakes that ravaged a nation already crushed by war, poverty and shrinking aid.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
City officials hired a company to knock down the brick behemoth months after a late-night fire ravaged the building in June 2024, but what to do with the city real estate has remained unclear.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, all three have been destroyed in separate accidents, the latest of which occurred on March 17, 2025, when a Heron Mk1 crashed into a helicopter while landing, totaling both aircraft but luckily not causing any casualties.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The video shows a couch completely destroyed, with stuffing pulled out and the frame exposed down to the springs.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Billing engineers were overwhelmed by manual updates, especially for enterprise contracts that spanned multiple clouds and organizational units.—
Scott Woody,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
And even before the storm made landfall, the levees protecting New Orleans began to fail, overwhelmed by heavy rain and massive storm surges.—
Reena Advani,
NPR,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To him, the field looked ruined — nothing like the stiff, proud stalks of wheat growing nearby.—
Julia Rendleman,
ProPublica,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The wrecked streetcar is colored yellow and white and was named the Elevador da Gloria.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
-
He was found in Laughry Creek near the wrecked SUV and was dressed in only his underwear, the prosecutor said.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The family faces a critical point that will either make their bond stronger or leave it shattered forever.—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
29 Aug. 2025
-
When gunfire shattered a routine Mass marking the first week of class at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, middle school students were among those who acted heroically, according to an emergency official, a principal and a parent whose children attend the school.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, several existing dilapidated buildings on the site will be demolished and their concrete recycled and partly reused to realize the new structures.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Archaeologists believe that Ayscough's house was demolished after a fire destroyed it in the early 1800s – but its remains have only just been uncovered in new excavations.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The April storms brought significant rainfall that caused flooding and damaged infrastructure, produced multiple tornadoes, left thousands without power and caused two deaths.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Soon afterward, staff started hearing reports that specialist suppliers to the auction house—such as conservators, who repair damaged paintings—were having to wait longer to get paid.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share