devastate

American  

[dev-uh-steyt] / ˈdɛv əˌsteɪt /

verb (used with object)

• devastates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• devastated,
  past participle,  past
• devastating
  present participle

1. to lay waste; render desolate.

   The invaders devastated the city.

   Synonyms:

   level, ruin, raze, despoil, sack, destroy

   Antonyms:

   develop, erect, create

2. 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.

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devastate British  

/ ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt /

verb

1. to lay waste or make desolate; ravage; destroy

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

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Synonym Usage

See ravage.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• devastation
  noun
• devastator
  noun
• devastative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• devastating
  present
• devastated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• devastate
  simple
• devastates
  simple
• have devastated
  perfect
• has devastated
  perfect
• am devastating
  progressive
• are devastating
  progressive
• is devastating
  progressive
• have been devastating
  perfect progressive
• has been devastating
  perfect progressive

Past

• devastated
  simple
• had devastated
  perfect
• was devastating
  progressive
• were devastating
  progressive
• had been devastating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will devastate
  simple
• will have devastated
  perfect
• will be devastating
  progressive
• will have been devastating
  perfect progressive

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!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

devastate devastates devastated devastating

“But your spouse is risk-averse and it would devastate her to lose $147,000. So let’s meet on the bridge” and bet less.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

"Each day we're seeing fires devastate green spaces and my team is incredibly worried," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

For months, Uber and lawyers from across the state poured tens of millions into dueling ballot measures that threatened to devastate the profits of whichever side lost.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 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

“It would devastate intelligence agencies across the globe,” he reasoned.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

It’s a burden that not only devastates families financially but also takes a toll on their health.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026

In the Sierra Nevada, private lands used for logging are more likely to experience high-severity fire that devastates forest ecosystems compared to public lands like National Forests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2025

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

“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

Agricultural societies are ravaged by famine when drought, fire or earthquake devastates the annual rice or potato crop.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

At the end of the criminal case, Cohen told reporters that Robicheaux’s life had been devastated by the situation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

In a statement, Adam Smith International said Harris was a "much loved member" of their team and that they were devastated by his death.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

"Reconstruction might take the priority over reform," he said, pointing to devastated hydropower projects, destroyed communities and the urgent need to restore livelihoods.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

When her bandages are unwrapped, she’s devastated to learn that her face is still symmetrical, with a thin nose, unblemished skin, and full lips.

From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026

Hours after it had been devastated by a tornado, Hilltop Farm was better than ever.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

The league delivers a devastating blow to Los Angeles’s B-side basketball franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

Defence lawyer Ewen Roy said that she recognised that her actions had "devastating consequences which weigh on her heavily".

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

“Our hearts are with Carla’s family and loved ones during this devastating time. We respectfully ask that their privacy be honored as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

For communities living beneath the world's highest mountains, a seemingly small rise in global temperatures can bring devastating consequences, Lhazom said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

They fought in Sherman’s devastating “March to the Sea” and in the last battle of the Civil War at the Battle of Columbus on the Georgia-Alabama border.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• ravage
• raze
• ruin
• wreck