devastating
adjective
dev·as·tat·ing
ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiŋ 
1
: causing great damage or harm
a devastating flood/earthquake
a devastating injury
A devastating coastal tsunami could also result from a severe displacement of the San Andreas Fault.—
Gary Sandquist
Gary Sandquist2
: causing extreme emotional pain
a devastating loss
Even the most banal domestic melodramas, readers come to understand, are experienced as devastating tragedies by children living them for the first time.—Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly3
: extremely effective or powerful
a devastating satire
He had a devastating wit and an utter contempt for shoddy work in physics.—Jeremy Bernstein
Jeremy Bernstein
devastatingly
adverb
Some people recover readily from the infection, but in others it becomes disseminated, spreading rapidly and devastatingly from lungs to bones, skin and nervous system
—Lawrence Galton
Lawrence Galton
Postcards from the Edge is a devastatingly savvy, bitingly funny, yet sad movie based on Carrie Fisher's autobiographical novel about Hollywood.
—Jeffrey Lyons
Jeffrey Lyons
… is portrayed as a devastatingly effective power broker in the Senate.
—Alan Brinkley
Alan Brinkley
Examples of devastating in a Sentence
a devastating blow to our morale
Recent Examples on the Web
The decision is the latest blow for Abbott over the issue of whether its formula for babies born prematurely causes a devastating intestinal disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In the past year-and-a-half, Yahkeim’s family and friends have had to grapple with their devastating loss while also navigating court proceedings.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
There are empowering anthems and devastating love songs.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Hill, who is trying to return from a devastating knee injury, played for the Chiefs from 2016-21.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
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Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In the past year-and-a-half, Yahkeim’s family and friends have had to grapple with their devastating loss while also navigating court proceedings.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
There are empowering anthems and devastating love songs.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Hill, who is trying to return from a devastating knee injury, played for the Chiefs from 2016-21.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devastating. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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