to devastate
221
4.9
- verb
- /ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt/
:
devastar
- The storm completely devastated the coastal town, leaving many homes in ruins.
- devastate the economy
- devastated by war
- devastate a country
Her life was devastated by this diagnosis.
- Her life was devastated by this diagnosis.
- So August Life has been fairly devastated by her epilepsy.
- And Benji's life is also really devastated in a parallel fashion.
- This is what devastates humans to be left out, right?
- And she's just devastated, like the grief is just crushing her.
- We can raise rates without devastating jobs.
- Josh, his family, his community has been utterly devastated by Hurricane Ida.
- Millions, millions of people's lives are devastated.
- Like I'm going to be devastated to leave this because I love it so much.
- And when we had to move, we were just devastated.
- And all of a sudden the pumpkin market is devastated.
- The children are starving, entire places are being devastated.
- And I think in that moment I would be so devastated, something like that.
- And I was just devastated and disappointed.
Examples
-
Our actions could go a long way toward helping to restore the devastated moral standing of this country.
Academic text (2008) -
He's devastated about missing his big singing debut.
-
This bill will devastate us.
-
Also, it would devastate him, which would defeat the purpose of building up his confidence.
-
Her life was devastated by this diagnosis.
-
Various federal aid programs have made funds available to rebuild devastated counties like it.
Academic text (2017) -
A loss could cost Hughes $ 137,000,000 and devastate his financial empire.
-
The disease produced one-half million American casualties and devastated friendly forces as well.
Academic text (1994) -
Although the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan devastated Al-Qaeda's safe haven, the group's core leadership survived.
Academic text (2008) -
Few, however, expected a major flood that devastated more than 4,100 houses in the community of 41,000.
Academic text (2013)
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Destroy or badly damage something so it cannot be used
225
2.9
To badly damage or destroy something
73
6.6
To damage a place or thing very badly
72
5.1
To make someone's hopes, confidence, or plans fail completely
63
7.5
To destroy completely, often killing many people
48
4.6
Cause deep pain to someone's feelings and destroy their hopes
43
8.1
To destroy something in a planned, controlled way
38
4.7
To destroy a place completely, leaving only ruins
33
7.7
To destroy something completely as if by a powerful weapon
30
8.7
To severely damage something so it cannot be used
15
4.2
Completely destroy an idea, argument, or reputation
15
7.6
To destroy something completely so nothing is left
12
7.9
To destroy a place and leave it ruined
11
4.1
To completely destroy something, often hopes or plans
10
9.1
To take away an important part so something loses its power
3
7.7
Damage or spoil something badly
1
9.1
To cause great suffering or damage
1
7.2
Make a place empty and lifeless by destroying or leaving it
Antonyms
How Devastating
Surface Forms
Etymology
Devastate comes from Latin parts de- meaning 'completely' and vastus meaning 'empty' or 'waste', and you can see the same root in the English word vast. So to devastate is to make a place empty or ruin it completely, which is why the word means great destruction or deep shock.