devastate

verb

SayDEV-uh-staytUK/ˈdɛv.ə.steɪt/AUS/ˈdev.ə.stæɪt/

Formsdevastates, devastating, devastated

4 meanings of devastate

1
verbtransitive
To ruin most or all of the things across a large area, such as a city's buildings or a forest's trees.
Like a tidal wave flattening everything in its path.
Wildfires can devastate entire forests in a matter of days.
The earthquake devastated three coastal towns within minutes.
Similardestroy, ravage, wreck, ruin, flatten
Oppositerebuild, restore
2
verbtransitive
To cause someone intense grief or dismay, draining away their spirit.
Like a single blow that knocks the spirit out of someone.
The news of her death devastated the entire family.
A sudden loss like that can devastate even the strongest person.
Similarshatter, crush, distress, overwhelm, destroy
Oppositecomfort, console, delight, cheer
3
verbtransitive
To damage something so completely that it cannot be saved or repaired, leaving only the choice to abandon it or start over.
Like a sandcastle washed flat: nothing left to fix, only to rebuild.
The flood devastated the old factory beyond any hope of repair.
A single reckless decision can devastate a business built over decades.
Similardestroy, ruin, wreck, cripple, sink
Oppositerestore, save, rescue, salvage
4
verbtransitive
To destroy an entire set of connected ideas, beliefs, and firmly held opinions.
Like a single proof that topples a whole framework of assumptions.
The new evidence devastated their long-held theory.
Findings like these can devastate an entire school of thought.
Similardemolish, destroy, shatter, overturn, discredit
Oppositeconfirm, support, vindicate, corroborate

Practice

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Origin

Borrowed from Latin dēvastātus, the past participle of dēvastō ("to lay waste, devastate"), formed from the intensive prefix dē- plus vastō ("to destroy, lay waste"), related to "vast." It was first attested in 1638.