as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ravaging
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the explosion devastated an entire city block
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastating
Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 31 Dec. 2024
Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took control of the country at the beginning of December, overthrowing President Bashar Assad in a devastating campaign that easily marched through the country and into Damascus.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024
The Yonhap News Agency attributed the devastating crash, one of the worst in the country's history, to malfunctioning landing gear.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024
This social isolation and loss of support – even from close friends and family members – is a devastating and often unrecognized side effect of the disease.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devastating 
Adjective
Quoting numerous case studies, Thomson finds peer-on-peer policing has become a regular part of university life, with students deemed to step out of line ostracized, sometimes with devastating consequences.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 31 Dec. 2024
Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took control of the country at the beginning of December, overthrowing President Bashar Assad in a devastating campaign that easily marched through the country and into Damascus.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024
The Yonhap News Agency attributed the devastating crash, one of the worst in the country's history, to malfunctioning landing gear.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024
This social isolation and loss of support – even from close friends and family members – is a devastating and often unrecognized side effect of the disease.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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His opportunity to coach this team had come after the Chargers lost in disastrous fashion to the Raiders in 2023 in Las Vegas.Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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The only exception is the somewhat confusing nature of the Wii U, which was more or less a Wii with a Gamepad, and that helped lead to disastrous sales.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.Neil Winton, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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At this point, most of the surveys are showing roughly seventy per cent of Israelis would prefer a hostage deal to whatever the alternative is, like destroying Hamas by any means.Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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White corn is particularly popular among craft distilleries, as the mild flavor of its whiskeys allows other mash bill components, such as rye or barley, and the influence of barrel aging to shine without overwhelming the palate.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Some popular online sites might be difficult to access or overwhelming for some age groups to navigate, but a physical card for a physical store could be a better fit.Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Shocking footage has captured collapsing homes and fiery winds spreading destructive embers across neighborhoods.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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This controversial practice also fills critical personnel gaps, especially as California faces a future with longer and more destructive fire seasons due to climate change.Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Which program will pay the most for the valuable service of demolishing them?Sam Blum, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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His endless highlight reel will be one of the lasting stories of the 2024 college football season — a sledgehammer in shoulder pads, demolishing defenders in his path.Justin Williams, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In August, the main global body analyzing food crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification's Famine Review Committee (FRC), warned that mass famine in Sudan fueled by the conflict could be on track to become the deadliest famine in over a decade.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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The series takes place in the 20-year aftermath of a deadly outbreak of mutant fungus (Cordyceps) that turns humans into monstrous zombie-like creatures (the Infected, or Clickers).Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This prequel flashes back to a previous Christmas in Los Angeles, when their unintentional destruction of a Santa Claus parade balloon put the city on edge, wrecking the gang's plans for a massive Yuletide bank robbery.EW.com, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024
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The vocalist’s sole concerns related to the natural environment, the animal kingdom and humankind’s responsibility for wrecking our only home.Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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