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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 Petty said the Christensen family has been devastated by the fatal accident, but are hopeful that Ella will be released from the hospital later this week. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2025 Speakers acknowledged that a new development was needed to bring fun to an area devastated by tragedy and held a moment of silence. Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025 While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated by even the implications. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 June 2025 The group warns that the ban on hemp products with THC would devastate legal businesses and drive demand toward the unregulated black market. Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Verb
  • But chemotherapy has also ravaged Tennant’s body and his quality of life.
    Lauren Sausser, Miami Herald, 16 June 2025
  • According to CoStar, the blazes wiped out almost $31 billion in property values, ravaging about 11,000 properties between homes and businesses.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Kanye West fired multiple PR firms before his antisemitic meltdowns destroyed billion-dollar partnerships with Adidas and Gap.
    Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • But the conflict has only escalated, with Russia’s launching some of its most extensive strikes in a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of casualties, and Ukraine’s carrying out the audacious Operation Spiderweb drone attack, which damaged or destroyed strategic aircraft inside Russia.
    Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The number of wild burros roaming pine forests and sagebrush fields has grown in recent years, with experts worried that the miniature beasts of burden could overwhelm rare and endangered species of plants.
    Annie Goodykoontz, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
  • In recent weeks, Russia has been sending swarms of drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and then following up with ballistic missiles, which are harder to shoot down.
    Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Sara Schilling, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher.
    Troy Finnegan‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • The Thunder overcame two Game 7s en route to the title, and they will now forever be called champions.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • Advertisement Indiana tried its best to overcome heartbreak in Game 7: Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ star point guard who was playing with a calf strain in his right leg, suffered an achilles injury in the first quarter.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Thirteen years after the nursing home shut down, a developer is proposing to demolish the vacant building and put up 160 apartments.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
  • The city intended to demolish the building and turn it into a parking lot.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Windshields of cars were shattered, bulldozers were removing rubble.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 14 June 2025
  • The warheads aimed to do more than shatter concrete; they were meant to buy time, according to news reports.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • DeChambeau became the first defending champion to miss the cut at the national championship since Gary Woodland in 2020 — his round wrecked by errant drives, knucklers out of the rough and putts that would not drop.
    Apress, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • When the blowback from this problem child’s dodgy associations threatens to wreck her life, the everymatriarch steps in.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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