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devastate

[ˈdevəsteɪt]

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

Antonyms for devastate

Idioms Using devastate

  • to destroy or ruin something completely

    Example

    The tornado laid waste to the small town, leaving nothing but rubble behind.

  • tear someone/something apart

    to cause great emotional or physical pain or damage to someone or something

    Example

    The divorce proceedings tore the family apart, leaving everyone devastated.

  • to shock or surprise someone very strongly

    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'

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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.