devastate
Americanverb (used with object)
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devastates,
present (3rd person singular)
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devastated,
past participle, past
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devastating
present participle
-
to lay waste; render desolate.
The invaders devastated the city.
-
to overwhelm, as with grief or dismay: Those rumors appeared to have devastated her.
We are devastated by this news and deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of our friend.
Those rumors appeared to have devastated her.
verb
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to lay waste or make desolate; ravage; destroy
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to confound or overwhelm, as with grief or shock
Synonym Usage
See ravage.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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devastatesimple
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devastatessimple
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have devastatedperfect
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has devastatedperfect
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am devastatingprogressive
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are devastatingprogressive
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is devastatingprogressive
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have been devastatingperfect progressive
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has been devastatingperfect progressive
Past
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devastatedsimple
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had devastatedperfect
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was devastatingprogressive
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were devastatingprogressive
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had been devastatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of devastate
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 ( def. ), -ate 1
Explanation
If a storm devastates your town, it comes pretty close to destroying it. To devastate is to cause destruction to or overwhelm. Really bad news can devastate a person, or leave them devastated. They are so upset, they feel crushed. A basketball team can devastate an opponent by running roughshod over their defense. The root of the word is the Latin vastare which means to lay waste, which comes from vastus meaning desolate or empty. Imagine a city laid waste after a major earthquake and you've got the picture!
Vocabulary lists containing devastate
List 5
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Divergent
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Tears of a Tiger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Treasury secretary announced new sanctions meant to target Tehran’s enablers and devastate the regime economically.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
"Each day we're seeing fires devastate green spaces and my team is incredibly worried," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
The screwworm, which has the capacity to devastate cattle and sheep herds, has now appeared in Texas, where its costs could be enormous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
The group's leader, Fernando Sanchez Castilla, a long-time plant employee who also serves as mayor of a nearby village, warns that shutting the facility would devastate dozens of surrounding communities.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
Most commentators assumed that getting bronze on beam would devastate me, but in fact, I was over the moon.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
It’s a burden that not only devastates families financially but also takes a toll on their health.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026
Describing drought as a "silent killer" which "creeps in, drains resources, and devastates lives in slow motion" the report said it had exacerbated issues like poverty and ecosystem collapse.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
In the world of “The Last of Us,” a mysterious cordyceps outbreak in 2003 devastates humanity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2025
“I think it’s that scarring, mental-health-wise. It just really devastates a person in a way they can’t come back from.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
The news could never be ignored: An earthquake devastates Haiti.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Bend, a popular destination for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation scene, "is devastated," Vanetsky said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
In the 20th century, national self-assertion generated two conflicts that devastated Europe and left few parts of the globe untouched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
"The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened," the statement continued.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
"We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Hannah," the family said.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Paris and Kat looked embarrassed, but Rio was devastated.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Not getting the response right could be devastating.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Experts say the retreat of glaciers can cause glacial lakes to expand, increasing the risk of sudden, potentially devastating floods that can cross borders into countries such as Nepal, India and Bhutan.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
The findings also reveal the devastating scale of the population decline that followed colonization.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Ironically, the property and casualty insurance industry could have seen returns boosted by a devastating hurricane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The revelation didn’t come the way she’d expected it to—total and devastating.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
