as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the sheer devastation of the housing development by the forest fire
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Recent Examples of devastation
The devastation was swift and heartbreaking and resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the area’s history.
—
Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Sep. 2025
At festivals, word of mouth travels fast, and before long, a movie that promises complete emotional devastation becomes the hottest ticket in town.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
When you are cheated on, the heartbreak and devastation that come with that.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Sep. 2025
But this was South Korea in the 1960s – a deeply patriarchal society that was singularly focused on rebuilding from the devastation of the Korean war and Japan’s brutal occupation before that.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Rosie O'Donnell recalled her devastation over how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres fell apart more than 20 years ago.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Indeed, moves toward open Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel were stopped by Hamas’ attack and the global backlash that followed Israel’s ongoing devastation of Gaza.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
The story grabbed him thematically too, given the increasing devastation caused by wildfires and other environmental catastrophes.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
This is not just the violence of batons or bullets, but the quieter devastation inflicted by law through denial, deferral or bureaucratic neglect.
—Hansel Alejandro Aguilar, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Sep. 2025
At festivals, word of mouth travels fast, and before long, a movie that promises complete emotional devastation becomes the hottest ticket in town.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
When you are cheated on, the heartbreak and devastation that come with that.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Sep. 2025
But this was South Korea in the 1960s – a deeply patriarchal society that was singularly focused on rebuilding from the devastation of the Korean war and Japan’s brutal occupation before that.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Rosie O'Donnell recalled her devastation over how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres fell apart more than 20 years ago.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Indeed, moves toward open Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel were stopped by Hamas’ attack and the global backlash that followed Israel’s ongoing devastation of Gaza.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
The story grabbed him thematically too, given the increasing devastation caused by wildfires and other environmental catastrophes.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
This is not just the violence of batons or bullets, but the quieter devastation inflicted by law through denial, deferral or bureaucratic neglect.
—Hansel Alejandro Aguilar, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastation
Noun
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The developing cauldron would trap Russian troops with few options beyond surrender or destruction.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Earth, meanwhile, has so far been unable to bring about its own destruction.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Turner made some key adjustments at the plate for this season to focus on creating havoc on the basepaths rather than hitting just for power.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Offensive line woes help Falcons cause havoc There were other issues leading to the problems that McCarthy faced, including injuries to backup left tackle Justin Skule and center Ryan Kelly.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The expansion team has lost each of its last five games against the Lynx, and most recently suffered one of their worst losses of the season in Game 1 on Sunday in a 29-point defeat.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The biggest losses were reported in the District of Columbia ($34,400), Florida ($32,100), and Montana ($26,900).—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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Moisture of extinction was reached across most of the fire, extinguishing fine dead fuels.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Barcelona’s municipal government, which has been contending with a housing crisis that stems, in part, from the conversion of many apartments into Airbnbs, has yet to decide whether to allow the demolition, but Sagrada Família officials are resolute.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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But the situation quickly changed when the Department of Government Efficiency, led at the time by Elon Musk, began its demolition in the name of reducing waste in federal bureaucracy.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devastation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastation. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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