devastate
verb
dev·as·tate
ˈde-və-ˌstāt 
devastated; devastating
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.
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
The theater was originally built in 1876 to a design by the Perugian architect Domenico Mollajoli, was devastated by fire in 1952 and then reconstructed between 1975 and 1996.
—
Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 25 May 2026
Travel industry leaders and major airlines warn the proposal would devastate tourism, choke international cargo and create massive operational snarls.
—Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
On a positive note, Cheatham said the Orlando community came together to support those devastated by the shooting.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Needless to say Roher was devastated, if not surprised, by Alexei Navalny’s death.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
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Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 25 May 2026
Travel industry leaders and major airlines warn the proposal would devastate tourism, choke international cargo and create massive operational snarls.
—Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
On a positive note, Cheatham said the Orlando community came together to support those devastated by the shooting.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Needless to say Roher was devastated, if not surprised, by Alexei Navalny’s death.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devastate. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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