devastate
verb (used with object)
to lay waste; render desolate.
devastates
-
present tense formof devastate (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
It’s a burden that not only devastates families financially but also takes a toll on their health.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026
After a comet devastates most of civilization in the first movie, Gerard Butler returns to lead an especially hardy family of survivors into a bold new future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2026
“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 world is once again watching, as El Niño devastates coral reefs throughout the Indian Ocean.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 12, 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
