devastate 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈde-və-ˌstāt How to pronounce devastate (audio)
Definition of devastatenext
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

devastating

2 of 3

adjective

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiŋ How to pronounce devastating (audio)
as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction a devastating blow to our morale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

devastating

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of devastate
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb devastate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of devastate are despoil, pillage, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

In what contexts can despoil take the place of devastate?

While the synonyms despoil and devastate are close in meaning, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of devastate?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When would ravage be a good substitute for devastate?

The words ravage and devastate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to devastate?

Although the words sack and devastate have much in common, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

When is waste a more appropriate choice than devastate?

While in some cases nearly identical to devastate, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

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
Verb
President Barack Obama first granted TPS to Haitians in January 2010 after the earthquake devastated their island. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 The tremor devastated the western Colombian cities of Cali and Pereira, leaving nearly 300 people dead and destroying almost 13,000 homes. — CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Taylor Swift has been dealt a devastating blow just weeks after exchanging vows with Travis Kelce. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026 Robert Torres lost nine family members, including his granddaughter, in the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela. — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
The developments come at a challenging time for Sánchez, whose government has been consumed by the response to wildfires that have been devastating the country, including some of the largest on record. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026 Following a succession of heat waves that started even before the summer, wildfires have raged across France in recent weeks, devastating large swaths of land amid record temperatures and dry weather. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
  1. ravage
  2. destroy
  3. overwhelm
  4. ruin
  5. overcome
  6. demolish
  7. shatter
  8. wreck
Verb
  • The Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions more and has ravaged the country’s economy.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The region ravaged by the quakes is also scarred by floods that, by some estimates, left as many as 30,000 people dead in 1999.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravage
Verb
  • The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In Solomianskyi district, the top two floors of a 9-story residential building were destroyed and fires broke out on other floors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Ukraine has increasingly launched swarms of hundreds of drones in an attempt to overwhelm Russian air defenses.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Those wanting to dip their toe for the first time in either genre won’t be overwhelmed.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Shane loves Ilya, but fears going public will ruin their careers.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Unlike in the Senate, where Democratic votes can be necessary to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, Jeffries commands a minority caucus in a chamber where Republicans can pass most legislation with a simple majority.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Lorne Balfe From overcoming dyslexia with early synths to navigating AI, remote recording, and spatial audio, the blockbuster composer reveals how technology shapes his scores.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region killed at least 10 people and wounded eight others as the barrage demolished homes, officials said Tuesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Next steps for the Excelsior Club The site was demolished in July after engineering assessments determined the building was unsalvageable.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • Windows were shattered at a children’s hospital in the Solomianskyi district, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • That was a cool metaphor of wanting each one of them to shatter a glass ceiling of sorts.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • Video from the scene showed the BMW wrecked along the front driver's side with the airbags deployed.
    — Doug Williams, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The day marked their first day of high school and an astounding Hail Mary comeback for the Catholic school wrecked by a tornado June 11.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of wreck

Browse Nearby Words

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devastate
devastated
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Cite this Entry

“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on devastate

Nglish: Translation of devastate for Spanish Speakers

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