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
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Recent Examples of devastate
Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Loss of this support, which is said to cover 25% of the center’s operating costs, would have been devastating both financially and reputationally.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
But there is no question that in the broader Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a devastating effect on the global economy.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Anaia’s face is a network of scars, the result of devastating childhood burns.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Verb
Despite a forecast for a less active 2026 hurricane season, experts warn that a single storm can devastate communities by severing critical infrastructure like power and communications.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Loss of this support, which is said to cover 25% of the center’s operating costs, would have been devastating both financially and reputationally.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026
Adjective
More than four decades later, Central Florida suffered what was arguably its most devastating and catastrophic hurricane season in 2004, when the region was blasted with three powerful tropical cyclones within six weeks.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
But there is no question that in the broader Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a devastating effect on the global economy.
—ABC News, 14 June 2026
Verb
Initial tests suggested the outbreak does not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which caused Congo’s devastating 2018–2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Anaia’s face is a network of scars, the result of devastating childhood burns.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Verb
-
The post-apocalyptic horror film stars Will Smith as a virologist and the last living human in a New York ravaged by a plague that turns humans into vampiric mutants.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
-
Fergie’s family, like so many at the time, were reeling from a hurricane that ravaged the island four weeks earlier on its way to slam into Galveston, Texas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Terminix utilizes the advanced Sentricon baiting system alongside traditional liquid barriers to destroy subterranean colonies entirely.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Stunned by the image, Charlie is overwhelmed by memories and guilt, and begins clutching his chest in an apparent heart attack.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
-
Employees were overwhelmed by long hours, unrealistic expectations and constant connectivity.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The Spurs rose up and ruined that party, winning their only game of the series.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the first and could not overcome the early deficit thanks to the efforts of OU starting pitcher Xander Mercurius’ 7 1/3 quality innings pitched.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
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Chasing atomic limits To overcome that challenge, the KAIST team relied on first-principles calculations, a computational approach that predicts material behavior using the laws of physics rather than experimental data.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
After considerable debate, the city demolished the building in March 2026.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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The committee’s meetings were sometimes contentious, with one of the toughest debates being whether the nightclub would be demolished or preserved in part.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Kate Ziegler breaks swimming’s oldest world record, shattering the 1,500-meter freestyle mark by 9 1/2 seconds at the TYR Meet of Champions Mission Viejo.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
When a shocking night shatters their fragile facade, both women are forced to confront the cost of control and decide what kind of future is worth fighting for.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Just across the Mississippi River in Avondale, Louisiana, a tornado wrecked four homes, Jefferson Parish spokeswoman Rachel Strassel said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Jane Ragsdale’s best friend Christine Chenoweth, a pastoral counselor and former Presbyterian minister, says the South Fork of the Guadalupe is now lousy and wrecked and haunted.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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