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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devastate
Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Without careful handling, these explosives can cause devastating destruction in crowded urban areas.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
From delivering disaster relief during devastating recent floods to investing in food banks, the business’ presence extends far beyond its checkout lines.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Verb
The Category 4 hurricane devastated local areas with up to 30 inches of rain and winds of up to 60 miles per hour.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
One year later, another devastating loss visited the grieving father.
—Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Without careful handling, these explosives can cause devastating destruction in crowded urban areas.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
Conversely, if carbon dioxide levels ever fell too far, the Earth would freeze nearly solid, also devastating the biosphere.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
From delivering disaster relief during devastating recent floods to investing in food banks, the business’ presence extends far beyond its checkout lines.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Adjective
-
The Murdochs, meanwhile, would get some redemption themselves, following the disastrous purchase of MySpace in 2005, which came right as Facebook was emerging as a dominant social platform.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Sep. 2025
-
But with so much riding on these systems, there can be potentially disastrous consequences at a massive scale if something goes wrong.—
Kevin Purdy,
ArsTechnica,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The massive 1980 eruption blasted a column of ash and gas more than 15 miles into the atmosphere and triggered a devastating landslide, killing 57 people in what was the most destructive eruption in modern US history.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The weather phenomenon could pose the danger of new wildfire starts; it is already linked to some of the state’s costliest, most destructive fires in the past.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Extensive data and research conducted by health and science experts have shown that COVID-19 is deadlier and more contagious than influenza viruses.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The disease is even more deadly in low- and middle-income countries that don’t have the resources to provide supportive care to children with severe infections.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share