devastate

[ dev-uh-steyt ]
See synonyms for: devastatedevastateddevastating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing.
  1. to lay waste; render desolate: The invaders devastated the city.

  2. to overwhelm, as with grief or dismay: We are devastated by this news and deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of our friend.Those rumors appeared to have devastated her.

Origin of devastate

1
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin dēvastātus “laid waste” (past participle of dēvastāre ), equivalent to dē- + vast(āre) “to lay waste” (akin to vastus “empty”) + -ātus; see origin at de-, waste, -ate1

synonym study For devastate

1. See ravage.

Other words for devastate

Opposites for devastate

Other words from devastate

  • dev·as·ta·tive, adjective
  • dev·as·ta·tor, noun

Words Nearby devastate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use devastate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for devastate

devastate

/ (ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to lay waste or make desolate; ravage; destroy

  2. to confound or overwhelm, as with grief or shock

Origin of devastate

1
C17: from Latin dēvastāre, from de- + vastāre to ravage; related to vastus waste, empty

Derived forms of devastate

  • devastation, noun
  • devastative, adjective
  • devastator, noun

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