devastation

[dev-uh-stey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of devastating; devastating; destruction.

2. devastated state; desolation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of devastation¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin dēvastātiōn- (stem of dēvastātiō ), equivalent to Latin dēvastāt ( us ) ( devastate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

“The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” promises to combat the world’s devastation with campy magic and mirth that only a queer interpretation of Christmas can provide.

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Californians remember the environmental and economic devastation of past oil spills.

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Lucy Davies sees the devastation repossessions can have on a daily basis.

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Perhaps the prospect of this kind of emotional devastation gives you pause.

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And so the story returns, as it always does, to devastation: a creature who longed to break bread with humanity instead learns to starve himself of hope.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• confusion 
• desolation 
• havoc 
• ravages www.thesaurus.com
• ruin