devastated

adjective

dev·​as·​tat·​ed ˈde-və-ˌstā-təd How to pronounce devastated (audio)
1
: brought to a state of ruin or destruction
Dr. Dawdy, a 38-year-old assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago, is one of the more unusual relief workers among the thousands who have come to the devastated expanses of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.John Schwartz
I present here a steady flow model for the blast dynamics and propose that through much of the devastated area the blast was a supersonic flow of a complex multiphase (solid, liquid, vapour) mixture.Susan Werner Kieffer
2
: emotionally shattered or distraught
Doug never called. He dumped me for the cheerleader, and I was, in the parlance of teen-age romance, absolutely devastated.Marialisa Calta
Mr. Jacoby was devastated; he felt he was a proven winner and should not be yanked for one bad half.Ira Berkow

Examples of devastated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ukrainian short-range drones are harrying Russian forces on the devastated battlefields while long-range strike craft hit targets closer to home. David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025 Soldiers posted triumphant selfie videos at the entrance of the devastated palace, which overlooks the Nile River, after days of heavy fighting with the Rapid Support Forces, the powerful paramilitary group that the army is battling for control of Sudan. arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025 Palestinian families who had returned to live among the ruins of the devastated neighborhood during the ceasefire once again fled, piling mattresses and belongings on donkey carts and escaping on muddy roads. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025 Over 250 conflicts in the past century have claimed millions of lives, devastated economies and crippled infrastructure. Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for devastated

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of devastated was in 1792

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Cite this Entry

“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devastated. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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