as in destroyed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Photos released by the agency showed rows of Easter cakes stacked inside a devastated building, covered in thick dust, as a huge hole gaped in the wall behind them and rubble piled up on the floor.
—Angela Charlton and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Then Hurricane Helene devastated the southwestern part of the state and wreaked havoc on the Blue Ridge Parkway, destroying people's homes and rendering roads impassable.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Adjective
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas offered an unprecedented window into devastated medical facilities.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Photos released by the agency showed rows of Easter cakes stacked inside a devastated building, covered in thick dust, as a huge hole gaped in the wall behind them and rubble piled up on the floor.
—Angela Charlton and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
The possibility of being able to get more money for shrimp could be a financial lifeline for shrimpers and fish markets along Florida’s Gulf Coast, where Hurricane Ian devastated livelihoods in 2022.
—Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Then Hurricane Helene devastated the southwestern part of the state and wreaked havoc on the Blue Ridge Parkway, destroying people's homes and rendering roads impassable.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
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Homes and the nearby shops on North Fair Oaks had been destroyed.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Houston has athletic size, and that has overwhelmed the Clippers in previous matchups.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fatherhood overwhelmed Wade at first.—
D. Watkins,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And then in Joker 2, some people complained that the movie was ruined by the images on the screen and the sounds that accompanied them.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
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Believing their beloved team already ruined mock drafting for the next two months, New York Giants fans probably hope for a loss against a Philadelphia Eagles team expected to rest starters Sunday.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Stretford End was demolished and replaced.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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The area has remained surface parking lots since 2012, when the arena was demolished.—
Ryan Deto,
Axios,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The venture devised by stars Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy was intended to launch a year ago but a storm wrecked the building.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2025
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Knee and shoulder injuries wrecked her 2024 season, with the Tunisian speaking about needing regular knee injections to be able to play following a third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon in July.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
28 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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