devastated

American

[dev-uh-stey-tid] / ˈdɛv əˌsteɪ tɪd /

adjective

laid waste; made desolate.

After the earthquake there were concerns about asbestos in the rubble of many of the devastated houses.
overwhelmed or shocked, especially by profound loss, disappointment, humiliation, etc..

I’m grateful that no one I knew personally died in the hurricane, but my heart goes out to all those devastated families.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of devastate.

Other Word Forms

undevastated

adjective

Etymology

Origin of devastated

devastate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

Twin earthquakes had just devastated Venezuela’s coast, causing thousands of casualties.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell,” the family said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

Gerson and Dayana's home has been destroyed, along with all their possessions, and they are devastated that their pet dog is still missing, but they say they will now "begin from scratch".

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

“If it’s sentimental to you and you would be devastated if you lost it, it’s not something you want to leave,” she says.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

All across southern England houses and villages were devastated, large buildings were swept away, farm animals were drowned, and as for people, the number of missing or dead was, for the time being, uncountable.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023