devastate

verb

dev·​as·​tate ˈde-və-ˌstāt 

devastated; devastating

transitive verb

1

: to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action

a country devastated by war

The typhoon devastated the island.

2

: to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : overwhelm

devastated by grief

Her wisecrack devastated the class.

devastation

ˌde-və-ˈstā-shən 

noun

devastative

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiv 

adjective

devastator

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• destroy
• ravage
• ruin
• scourge

Choose the Right Synonym for devastate

ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying.

ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Examples of devastate in a Sentence

The flood devastated the town.

The disease has devastated the area's oak tree population.

The hurricane left the island completely devastated.

Recent Examples on the Web

What Happened in Hawaii? In August 2023, the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, on the northwest coast of the island of Maui, was devastated by a raging wildfire which killed 102 people and displaced thousands. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Wildfires have devastated Southern California since early last week, leaving thousands of residents displaced, their homes reduced to ash and rubble. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

The family was devastated to learn she had been found dead. —Kc Baker, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025

The recent Los Angeles-area fires have devastated the region, destroying property en masse and leaving a death toll in the double digits in their wake. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin devastatus, past participle of devastare, from de- + vastare to lay waste — more at waste

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

devastate

verb

dev·​as·​tate ˈdev-ə-ˌstāt 

devastated; devastating

1

: to reduce to ruin : lay waste

2

: overwhelm sense 2, overpower

devastated by grief

devastatingly

-ˌstāt-iŋ-lē 

adverb

devastation

ˌdev-ə-ˈstā-shən 

noun