devastation
AmericanEtymology
Origin of devastation
1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin dēvastātiōn- (stem of dēvastātiō ), equivalent to Latin dēvastāt ( us ) ( see devastate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When there's devastation, there's terrible destruction. You can see the devastation from a violent hurricane and feel devastation over all the people that were injured. When a natural disaster causes widespread death and destruction, that's devastation. This is a strong word that suggests serious damage has occurred, leaving almost nothing left. One knocked over car isn't devastation, but a whole town being wiped out is. People can also feel devastation — it's a kind of extreme sadness or state of feeling emotionally wrecked.
Vocabulary lists containing devastation
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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.
And he has slammed the "environmental devastation" caused by the "frenzied race" for rare earth elements, which are essential for modern electronics.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
But the true devastation comes in an instrumental just after the bridge.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
The Toba supereruption, centered in what is now Indonesia, unleashed devastation on a staggering scale.
From Science Daily • May 11, 2026
"I'm asking you to think, for just one minute, of the utter devastation that could have resulted," he said.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
I'm grateful you weren't here to witness such haunting devastation.
From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys
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.
