1
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
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 to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
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as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastate
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
The Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled for its final day as severe flooding devastated the Milwaukee area, leaving nearly 18,000 residents without power and forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles on flooded roadways.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Spain has deployed an additional 500 military personnel to combat devastating wildfires as scorching temperatures continue to fuel blazes across the country.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Verb
That earlier move from Iran, which came after after the 12-Day War with Israel devastated the regime’s top military brass and U.S. strikes set back its nuclear ambitions, has effectively kept its nuclear program in the dark.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
The Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled for its final day as severe flooding devastated the Milwaukee area, leaving nearly 18,000 residents without power and forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles on flooded roadways.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Surge is also the amount above what the normal tide is at a time, so a 15-foot storm surge at high tide can be far more devastating than the same surge at low tide.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Spain has deployed an additional 500 military personnel to combat devastating wildfires as scorching temperatures continue to fuel blazes across the country.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Adjective
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This came after multiple failures in recent years — including three disastrous explosions in 2025 alone.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Russia is having a disastrous harvest despite being an agricultural powerhouse, putting further pressure on the economy and the Kremlin’s finances.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The storms brought destructive heavy rainfall and flash floods to the nation’s Sao Vicente island.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Wisconsin's miserable summer weather is also affecting our mental health, experts say Few things are as destructive as a flood.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The suspect in the deadly shooting Friday, Aug. 22 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit was taken into custody early Saturday morning, according to the Detroit Police Department.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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Both are incredibly venomous and deadly, but the Coral snake has more neurotoxic venom on a drop-for-drop basis.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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