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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
But there is no question that in the broader Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a devastating effect on the global economy.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Anaia’s face is a network of scars, the result of devastating childhood burns.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
More than four decades later, Central Florida suffered what was arguably its most devastating and catastrophic hurricane season in 2004, when the region was blasted with three powerful tropical cyclones within six weeks.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
But there is no question that in the broader Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a devastating effect on the global economy.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Verb
Initial tests suggested the outbreak does not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which caused Congo’s devastating 2018–2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Anaia’s face is a network of scars, the result of devastating childhood burns.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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This study marks the first to use that data to model climate as rising temperatures are expected to fuel more disastrous events, from marine heat waves that kill coral to droughts.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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The next two decades were mostly disastrous.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Temperatures have risen in oceans faster due to climate change, super-charging storms and drought, ravaging coral reefs across the world, and endangering species in tandem with overfishing and industrial pollution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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And with injuries ravaging Canada’s back line, Sigur has the quality to quickly become an important part of their World Cup.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Layering a buttery blazer over an all-white ensemble and coordinating it with a matching bag instantly brightens the whole outfit without overwhelming it.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
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Every dish and pairing is thoughtfully curated to awaken the palate without overwhelming it.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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This leaves the mid-market trapped in a dangerous wasteland, forced into destructive promotional cycles to protect foot traffic without possessing the scale to survive thin margins.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
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The Big 12 insists that college athletes betting is destructive to the integrity of sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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People in the crowd also took bats to five NYPD vehicles and jumped on them, shattering front and back windows, officials said.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
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Videos online showed Knicks fans stomping on Citi Bikes, climbing street lamps, shattering windows and attacking taxi cabs.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Biden, who has spoken at length about overcoming drug addiction, claims to be at least $15 million in debt.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
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Many training programs for travel consultants (or really for anybody who works in sales) include tactics on overcoming objections.—
Scott Laird,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Other fatal skydiving crashes in Missouri Sunday’s crash was at least the fourth deadly skydiving incident in Missouri since 1998.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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Dennis Jacobs, the airport manager and director of Bates County Emergency Management, previously told USA TODAY that the incident was the deadliest crash in the airport's roughly 50-year history.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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