devastate
verb (used with object)
to lay waste; render desolate.
was devastating
-
past progressiveof devastate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Willis said it was "devastating" when news came that a body had been found.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, said it was "devastating" to think about the grief of the families involved.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
“As you can imagine, this was devastating news for SW. The man she believed would spend the rest of his life in prison had been released,” Fryoff said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
"Chances are this El Nino is going to be stronger than the 2015-2016 one," Leising said, noting that a decade ago, the oceanic heat wave was devastating for the Golden State.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The loss of the eight pounds, ten shillings, and one penny per month that I earned at Sidelsky was devastating.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
