devastating
Americanadjective
-
tending or threatening to devastate.
a devastating fire.
-
satirical, ironic, or caustic in an effective way.
a devastating portrayal of society.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of devastating
First recorded in 1625–35; devastat(e) + -ing 2
Explanation
Something that's shocking and distressing is devastating. Watching the local ice cream shop burn to the ground would be devastating to many neighborhood kids. Incredibly destructive events like earthquakes are devastating, although anything that's tragic, even on a personal level, can also be devastating. It's also used informally to mean incredibly affecting or impressive, like a photographer's devastating images of urban poverty. This meaning came into use in the late 1800s — before that, devastating came right from the Latin word devastare, "to lay waste completely."
Vocabulary lists containing devastating
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Hatchet
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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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.
Brighton Pavilion MP Sian Berry said it was "devastating, heartbreaking news".
From BBC • May 15, 2026
He added that Ukraine's stockpiles were already low following a devastating Russian campaign against Ukrainian energy facilities over the winter.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
“She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. This has been devastating for everyone. It is premature to make any other statement.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
He had just turned 22, came with otherworldly talent and seemed poised to become one of baseball’s most devastating sluggers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
The events of July 31, 1943, were the worst blow and the most devastating loss that the 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment suffered during the entire war.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
