as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ravaging
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroying
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 overwhelming
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 devastating
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026
Still, this sequence was particularly devastating.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Law Murray, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Declining demand and cheap imports meant most mines had closed by the 1990s, devastating an economy built around them.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
Indeed, the only shooting victims shown (in several devastating flashes) are the heart of the film’s insoluble sorrows.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026
Still, this sequence was particularly devastating.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Verb
But the smoke portion of their smoke-and-mirrors defense has been more like smog as the games go on, with the third quarter devastating the Lakers each time.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Declining demand and cheap imports meant most mines had closed by the 1990s, devastating an economy built around them.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
-
The researchers found that the falcon’s body shape and feather structure help maintain stable airflow during high-speed flight, which reduces the possibility of dangerous instabilities that could otherwise make pull-out mechanically disastrous.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
After a disastrous conversation, Bear ends up making the wish himself, breaking the stick and wishing that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world, his caution obliterated by emotion.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
Verb
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In the penultimate episode, a fire at the Pineville Dam spiraled out of control, ravaging the infrastructure and causing the dam to break.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
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But Haiti’s ravaging cycle of violence is increasingly making even this hard as the game Haitians love increasingly become a casualty of the gang wars.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
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It was compounded when a West Contra Costa storage unit caught fire, destroying Alvin’s belongings, their mother testified.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
This allows longer cask time without overwhelming the spirit with oak.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Now the Knicks are overwhelming a Cavaliers team that looks completely overmatched by the moment.—
Kristian Winfield,
Sun Sentinel,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
But Great Power wars are more destructive than others because of their intensity and scale, because of the weapons used, and because of their tendency to spread.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The report flags a video from the progressive nonprofit More Perfect Union on the destructive effects of a data center to nearby residents in Georgia.—
Daniel Boguslaw,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Third, Ukrainian drone strikes are catalyzing profound morale issues within Russia itself, methodically shattering the illusion of domestic security cultivated by the Kremlin, as the Kremlin tightens its grip over society, including through the suspension of popular messaging apps such as Telegram.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
23 May 2026
-
Such an explosion could release energy comparable to a small nuclear weapon, creating a powerful shockwave capable of shattering windows and causing localized damage over a wide area.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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One lawmaker Lackey’s unofficial bill title wasn’t lost upon was Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, D-Jefferson Park, a lawmaker who has spoken publicly about overcoming systemic barriers in his own life as a Black man and has centered his political career largely on criminal justice reform.—
Andrew Graham
May 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
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That’s because the Phillies (29-27) stand as a serious threat in the wild-card races, and overcoming the Dodgers in the West race just isn’t realistic.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
This situation is ruining my good feelings about the club.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
When sound came in, people were writing all these articles about how sound is ruining films.—
Andy Hazel,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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