1
as in ravaged
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 ruined
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 overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
we were devastated by the awful news of his death
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in destroyed
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastated
Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Brandon Bell/Getty Images But none of this prepared us for one of the most devastated areas, the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
The 2022 heat wave in India that devastated the wheat harvest.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Verb
His parting vision of her funeral pyre both recalls and anticipates the devastated city of Carthage, sacked by Rome.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Brandon Bell/Getty Images But none of this prepared us for one of the most devastated areas, the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The Astros’ rotation also has been devastated by injuries, and their bullpen still is without closer Josh Hader and a couple of go-to middle-inning relievers.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
The 2022 heat wave in India that devastated the wheat harvest.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastated
Verb
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This contagious malady has ravaged Norfolk County over the past few years.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On the news, Ukraine was ravaged.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The tall, steep mountains that rise to 6,000 feet in elevation in the Grandfather District saw triple digit winds and some of the heaviest rainfall of the storm with hundreds of miles of trail and road destroyed.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Sep. 2025
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Alshon cruised past Johnson 3,7 in a surprise, while Garnett destroyed Haworth 4,1 to set up a very solid final.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many companies and industries are clearly overwhelmed by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence—with a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology paper suggesting that 95% of generative AI pilot programs had failed among the dozens of companies the researchers surveyed.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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In my debut novel, Little Movements, the protagonist, Layla, is overwhelmed by these truths when she’s selected to be the choreographer-in-residence at a prestigious arts institution in rural Vermont.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When faced with Cherry going berserk, what can Laura do but visit Cherry’s mother and learn that Cherry nearly killed her dad and ruined an ex-boyfriend’s wedding by filling his cake with raw pig parts?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The wrecked streetcar is colored yellow and white and was named the Elevador da Gloria.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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He was found in Laughry Creek near the wrecked SUV and was dressed in only his underwear, the prosecutor said.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Getty Images The nascent campaign has already shattered the record for philanthropic money raised in support of hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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When your industry is being shattered by greed?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hours later, after another warning was posted on X by the Israeli military, a multi-story building in Gaza City was struck but not demolished.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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In a shocking and dominant performance, Lesnar completely demolished Cena, delivering 16 German suplexes in a one-sided beatdown to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle takes it one step further, creating a paddle brush that’s delicate enough for thinning and damaged strands.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Chargers generate heat, and with older or damaged ones, that can create a fire risk.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastated. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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