devastate

1 of 2

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

devastator

2 of 2

noun

dev·​as·​ta·​tor -tə(r) 

plural -s

: one that devastates

Synonyms of devastate

Verb

• ravage
• destroy

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

Verb

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

Verb

Healthcare workers who’d turned up for the event described patients choosing between affording medication or food, or how they themselves had been financially devastated by a medical crisis. — Kate Wells, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Ji-hye’s punishment Ji-hye is devastated at the arrest of her son, and furiously tries to confess to the crime herself. — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Duran compared the destruction in Williamsburg and Bushwick to the wave of arson that devastated parts of the South Bronx during the 1970s. — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

But consolidating Lake Powell into Lake Mead would devastate recreationists who have enjoyed the area for generations, and the town of Page would lose most of its economy as well as its energy supply. — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Italian & Late Latin; Italian devastatore, from Late Latin devastator, from Latin devastatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for devastate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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