1
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the explosion devastated an entire city block
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastate
The 2025 cuts are substantially larger and more targeted, and have devastated some groups.
—
Andrea Hagan, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
The unrest devastated the neighborhood.
—George Motz, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Elijah Strand, Athena’s uncle, told the court that Horner’s actions devastated their family and left them with an emptiness that can’t be filled.
—Harriet Ramos
may 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2026
His planet has dealt with great wars that have devastated civilization and left advanced weaponry accessible to very few people.
—Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Andrea Hagan, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
The unrest devastated the neighborhood.
—George Motz, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Elijah Strand, Athena’s uncle, told the court that Horner’s actions devastated their family and left them with an emptiness that can’t be filled.
—Harriet Ramos
may 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2026
His planet has dealt with great wars that have devastated civilization and left advanced weaponry accessible to very few people.
—Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
Verb
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In Bird Box, mysterious entities that drive people who look at them completely insane ravage the planet, and the only way to survive is to not look at them.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
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The majority of those moves in that 2020 season were necessitated by the team seeing nearly one-third of its roster ravaged and only having so many options to fill spots.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Onions can be used as a companion plant to carrots to keep away the destructive carrot fly, a pest that can stunt the growth of carrots and even destroy entire plantings.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
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If an Entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or destroyed, entrant’s sole remedy shall be another entry into the Sweepstakes.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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This is the monthly observing window — when moonlight no longer overwhelms the fainter stars and the sky begins to reveal itself again.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Through its trademark, Federal Retirement Made Simple™, this observation has informed FEBA’s ongoing focus on education, with an emphasis on making complex systems more understandable without overwhelming the individual.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
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On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Detroit allowed Cleveland to sprint to a 22-0 run to start the second half that took the Cavaliers from a four-point halftime deficit to an 18-point lead the Pistons were never able to overcome.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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To overcome this, researchers at ETH Zurich used a subtler effect called the geometric phase, which exploits the path taken by atoms through an artificial ‘crystal of light’ built from intersecting laser beams.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The house was set to be demolished after Sprague died, but instead it was purchased and partially restored by Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt in the 1960s.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
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Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
8 May 2026
Verb
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LaPorta set the rookie tight end record for receptions in 2023 with 86 (the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers shattered it a year later with 112).—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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If the record pace continues, TDT will raise well over $400 million in the current fiscal year, shattering last year’s mark.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Police found Berry’s vehicle, along with personal items inside, wrecked in the driveway – but Berry was not at the home, the warrant says.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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The Bills will head into the season without a true, identifiable game-wrecking defensive player on the roster.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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