Synonyms of devastates

devastates

verb

present tense third-person singular of devastate

1

as in destroys

to bring destruction to (something) through violent action

the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroys
• ravages
• ruins
• overwhelms
• plunders
• shatters
• scourges
• obliterates
• decimates
• despoils
• wrecks
• eradicates
• desolates
• vaporizes
• annihilates
• demolishes
• pillages
• extinguishes
• wracks
• loots
• harries
• expunges
• smashes
• wastes
• strips
• sacks
• extirpates
• wipes out
• razes
• forays
• overpowers
• mows
• totals
• nukes
• overthrows
• marauds
• rubs out
• overruns
• crushes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restores
• recovers
• redeems
• rehabilitates
• repairs
• reconditions
• mends
• fixes
• revamps
• patches

2

as in demolishes

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of

the explosion devastated an entire city block

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroys
• demolishes
• shatters
• ruins
• wrecks
• smashes
• overcomes
• decimates
• damages
• annihilates
• erodes
• wastes
• vaporizes
• extinguishes
• pulverizes
• desolates
• ravages
• razes
• wracks
• cripples
• kills
• dismantles
• totals
• injures
• tears down
• mars
• does in
• breaks
• pulls down
• removes
• crushes
• nukes
• rubs out
• defeats
• impairs
• subdues
• creams
• disfigures
• disintegrates
• blasts
• conquers
• deteriorates
• harms
• mutilates
• clobbers
• obliterates
• vitiates
• dissolves
• surmounts
• spoils
• thrashes
• eradicates
• trounces
• prevails (over)
• mangles
• wallops
• licks
• bests
• defaces
• wins (against)
• masters
• routs
• undoes
• scours
• overbears
• whips
• unmakes
• exterminates
• triumphs (over)
• tramples
• assassinates
• beats
• slaughters
• plunders
• despoils
• dynamites
• slays
• trims
• effaces
• disassembles
• vandalizes
• sweeps (away)
• liquidates
• blows up
• guts
• expunges
• trashes
• wears (away)
• murders
• pillages
• executes
• extirpates
• loots
• washes out
• drubs
• stamps (out)
• zaps
• overmatches
• wipes out
• takes down
• roots (out)
• cuts down
• blots out
• scotches
• dispatches
• snuffs (out)
• sacks
• dilapidates
• kills off
• massacres
• mows (down)
• unbuilds
• fells
• takes out
• skunks
• butchers
• havocs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• builds
• creates
• raises
• erects
• constructs
• repairs
• produces
• sets up
• makes
• doctors
• rears
• invents
• fixes
• establishes
• manufactures
• constitutes
• protects
• puts up
• assembles
• forms
• mends
• shapes
• organizes
• saves
• reconditions
• preserves
• fathers
• founds
• restores
• revamps
• brings about
• institutes
• frames
• forges
• fashions
• conserves
• reconstructs
• patches
• fabricates
• molds
• rebuilds
• renovates
• remodels

3

as in overwhelms

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

we were devastated by the awful news of his death

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overwhelms
• overcomes
• oppresses
• overpowers
• crushes
• disturbs
• whelms
• prostrates
• drowns
• swamps
• grinds (down)
• rocks
• floors
• shatters
• upsets
• overmasters
• defeats
• snows under
• sinks
• refutes
• demoralizes
• staggers
• unnerves
• deluges
• throws
• distresses
• confutes
• unmans
• breaks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of devastates

As climate chaos causes oceans to swallow coastlands, and as surging water displaces and devastates communities, social survival will demand that people find ways to live and work with – and on – the water. — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026

The urban planner and former professor also knows what happens next after a powerful earthquake devastates whole communities. — Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

The breakup devastates both Charlie and Nick, who both resist their respective urges to reach out to one another, and Elle, Tao and Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan) come to Charlie’s home to look after him post-split. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

So when the dog is lost in a severe storm that devastates the region and leaves many homeless, an overwhelmed Rose must balance the urgency of her search mission alongside the misfortune of others close to her. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 June 2026

Withholding effective treatment for chronic disease devastates lives and drives up healthcare costs. — Karen R. Studer, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026

After an epidemic devastates humanity, one group, the Traveling Symphony, connects disparate survivors by performing Shakespeare. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 May 2026

As a Category 5 hurricane devastates a small coastal town, flooding turns out to be the least of the residents' worries when the rising water brings massive predators with it. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Apr. 2026

Florida’s citrus industry has been in a steady decline the past 25 years because of Huanglongbing (also known as HLB and citrus greening disease), a bacterial disease that devastates citrus trees. — Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026