as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastating
Anna McAllister, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Smalley finally flinched with a devastating double bogey.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Law Murray, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Declining demand and cheap imports meant most mines had closed by the 1990s, devastating an economy built around them.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
These are very precise, devastating weapons.
—Anna McAllister, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Smalley finally flinched with a devastating double bogey.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Verb
But the smoke portion of their smoke-and-mirrors defense has been more like smog as the games go on, with the third quarter devastating the Lakers each time.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Declining demand and cheap imports meant most mines had closed by the 1990s, devastating an economy built around them.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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Stearns had nothing to do with any of them — and everything to do with the disastrous offseason that made the Mets the worst team in baseball for most of April.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List, Turpentine follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his own parents to pay off a bookie, with disastrous results.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Verb
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With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
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The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Giant sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling to separate different areas for destroying things and painting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Pests and wood-destroying organisms Charlotte’s warm, humid climate makes termites a year-round threat, not just seasonal.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The film industry has a genuine chance to protect itself from the slop proliferation problem already overwhelming YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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Now under $100, these square-toe flats channel minimalist charm, featuring a leather upper and a dainty bow at the front for a subtle touch without overwhelming.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Drought conditions in Georgia have worsened since the project was announced, and today, the whole state is experiencing severe to exceptional drought, with destructive wildfires burning in the southern part of Georgia.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
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Derrick was charged with manufacturing explosive materials without a license, unlawfully possessing an unregistered destructive device and distributing information related to the manufacture of explosives.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The administration’s norm-shattering masks a more fundamental misunderstanding of how administrative power can bring about lasting change.—
Joshua M. Sharfstein,
STAT,
16 May 2026
-
At that price point, the home will likely become the most expensive home sold in Miami-Dade, shattering the record set by Zuckerberg earlier this year.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The Louisiana native told me that overcoming his native cuisine was half the battle in that redshirt year.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The biggest obstacle was overcoming low expectations.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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When sound came in, people were writing all these articles about how sound is ruining films.—
Andy Hazel,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
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Dyckman’s sharing the top three outdoor decor trends that are ruining your space—plus, her favorite Amazon swaps to fix them, starting at $22.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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