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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of devastate
Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Rolling it back will devastate Lakeshore’s ability to bring you local news, information and local programming.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
What ensues is an often hilarious and sometimes devastating exploration of what really makes a family.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Verb
The death shook the Philly music scene and devastated Nowell’s friends and bandmates, many of whom struggle to talk about their friend.
—Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Rolling it back will devastate Lakeshore’s ability to bring you local news, information and local programming.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Adjective
But the fallout from the deaths of his mother and brother — and his father’s March 2023 double murder conviction — was devastating for Buster.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
What ensues is an often hilarious and sometimes devastating exploration of what really makes a family.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Adjective
-
Though Rivera was strong on balance beam and floor, posting the highest mark on beam and the third-best on floor, a disastrous bar routine took the Olympian out of the gold medal race.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack went crawling back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Decades later, Iraqis still did not have 24-hour electricity due to that brief but intensely destructive air campaign.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
When a rocket releases a satellite in this type of high-energy orbit, the upper stage has usually burned almost all of its propellant, leaving little fuel to steer itself back into Earth's atmosphere for a destructive reentry.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
In turn, Bivins brought in another friend to execute the deadly plot, according to an FBI criminal complaint and the factual statement filed with his plea agreement.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
-
The San Antonio River rose extremely quickly in the vicinity of the deadly flooding Thursday.—
Brandon Miller,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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