devastate

American  

[dev-uh-steyt] / ˈdɛv əˌsteɪt /

verb (used with object)

devastated, devastating

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.

---

devastate British  

/ ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt /

verb

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

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

---

Related Words

See ravage.

Other Word Forms

• devastation noun
• devastative adjective
• devastator noun

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; de-, waste ( def. ), -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It was devastatingly effective; the so-called resistance was left reeling.

From Salon

“It was highly devastating and I knew it would have a devastating impact—if you don’t get a paycheck it matters,” said Cortez Masto.

From The Wall Street Journal

The majority of those wounded in the devastating New Year bar blaze in Crans-Montana were still in hospital on Monday, as the bodies of five Italian teenagers were repatriated from Switzerland.

From Barron's

"My thoughts are with all her family and friends after this devastating loss," she wrote on X.

From BBC

Leeds United say they are "devastated" after a supporter died before their Premier League game against Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday.

From BBC

Related Words

• ravage
• raze
• ruin
• wreck