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
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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
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
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Recent Examples of devastate
Hollie Silverman
nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Park workers confirmed three bats in the park were infected with white-nose syndrome, a fungus that is not harmful to humans but can devastate bat populations.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
Saying goodbye to Sunny in July 2024 was devastating.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Verb
That community will be devastated for a long time to come.
—Hollie Silverman
nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Park workers confirmed three bats in the park were infected with white-nose syndrome, a fungus that is not harmful to humans but can devastate bat populations.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
Adjective
Meanwhile, devastating conflicts still rage in Nigeria, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
Saying goodbye to Sunny in July 2024 was devastating.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Adjective
-
That does not mean people place blind faith in AI or use it to displace human-to-human interactions; that would be disastrous.—
Yasmin Green,
Foreign Affairs,
7 July 2025
-
It was largely forgotten about until closer to release (December 2020 was launch, and its disastrous release was all anyone could talk about).—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
He was charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to Terrorists, Conspiracy to manufacture unregistered destructive devices and aiding and abetting the manufacture of unregistered destructive devices.—
Scott MacFarlane
July 6,
CBS News,
6 July 2025
-
Keep your eye out for the iris borer, the most destructive insect pest of iris.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Texan communities are dealing with the impact of the deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River, which have killed at least 80 people so far.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
-
Yolo County authorities announced Saturday the discovery of seven bodies at the site of Tuesday’s deadly fireworks explosion in rural Yolo County, matching the number of individuals reported missing in the blast.—
Michael McGough
July 5,
Sacbee.com,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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