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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastates
After an epidemic devastates humanity, one group, the Traveling Symphony, connects disparate survivors by performing Shakespeare.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
The fire devastates the area, burning down the couple's entire property.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 16 May 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
Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.
—Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Winner’s gritty urban thriller starred Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, an everyman architect who becomes a vigilante after a brutal assault devastates his family.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Deadly flooding devastates South Asia Almost 400 people have died in Pakistan after flash floods brought destruction throughout the country’s north.
—Semafor Staff, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 May 2026
The fire devastates the area, burning down the couple's entire property.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 16 May 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
Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.
—Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Winner’s gritty urban thriller starred Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, an everyman architect who becomes a vigilante after a brutal assault devastates his family.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Deadly flooding devastates South Asia Almost 400 people have died in Pakistan after flash floods brought destruction throughout the country’s north.
—Semafor Staff, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastates
Verb
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Then comes the eruption of a giant, bright fireball that destroys the rocket and its launchpad.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
-
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that a person needs to walk, talk, swallow and breathe, according to the ALS Assn.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While vulnerability discovery once required significant human effort, the company says advanced systems can now uncover flaws at a scale that overwhelms traditional patching workflows.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
This is the monthly observing window — when moonlight no longer overwhelms the fainter stars and the sky begins to reveal itself again.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Wildfire ravages Simi Valley as evacuations are underway.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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Greenhouses provide protection from scourges like tomato blight, which ravages otherwise beautiful crops in areas with cool, rainy weather.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The other, from the southwest Khuzestan province, has a filling of dates, walnuts and coconut and pastry that shatters like a shell.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
But the illusion shatters when a stranger on the street recognizes the dog… as HER boyfriend Danny’s dog.—
William Earl,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the realization that nothing—or no one—will be enough overcomes the final bridge, a flurry of drums gallop in and the track explodes into fireworks as Rodrigo screams her guts out.—
Quinn Moreland,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
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The system also overcomes the volatile risks of gas storage entirely by chemically locking hydrogen into a solid metal hydride during both charging and discharging.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Verb
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This scale quickly clogs ordinary solar stills, much like calcium buildup ruins your bathroom showerhead.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
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Castelsardo, Sardinia Lovely Castelsardo, with its meandering streets, knockout beaches, and Bronze Age ruins, makes a picture-perfect seaside base for exploring the northern coast of Sardinia.—
Anne Olivia Bauso,
Travel + Leisure,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Kyle Busch wrecks Ron Hornaday under caution!—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastates. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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