devastate Definition
- 1to cause great destruction or damage
- 2to make someone feel extremely shocked, sad, or disappointed
Using devastate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "devastate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The hurricane devastated the coastal town.
Example
The news of his death devastated his family.
Example
The company's bankruptcy will devastate the local economy.
Example
The fire completely devastated the forest.
devastate Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using devastate
Example
The tornado laid waste to the small town, leaving nothing but rubble behind.
to cause great emotional or physical pain or damage to someone or something
Example
The divorce proceedings tore the family apart, leaving everyone devastated.
Example
The news of the company's closure hit the employees like a ton of bricks.
Phrases with devastate
to be extremely upset or shocked by something
Example
She was devastated by the news of her father's illness.
a severe setback or defeat
Example
The team's loss in the final game was a devastating blow to their championship hopes.
a powerful and negative impact on something or someone
Example
The pandemic had a devastating effect on the global economy.
Origins of devastate
from Latin 'devastare', meaning 'lay waste'
Summary: devastate in Brief
The verb 'devastate' [ˈdevəsteɪt] means to cause great destruction or damage, or to make someone feel extremely shocked, sad, or disappointed. It can refer to physical destruction, such as 'The hurricane devastated the coastal town,' or emotional devastation, as in 'The news of his death devastated his family.' The phrase 'be devastated by something' denotes extreme upset, while 'devastating blow' and 'devastating effect' describe severe setbacks or negative impacts. Idioms like 'lay waste to something' and 'tear someone/something apart' emphasize complete destruction or damage.
