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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of devastating
Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 26 May 2025
Listen to this article 4 min Christie Brinkley is sending love to her ex-husband Billy Joel, just days after the Grammy Award winner announced a devastating diagnosis.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
At least 7 killed in Missouri A storm that produced a devastating tornado in the St. Louis area Friday afternoon has left at least five people dead and many others injured, according to local authorities.
—Matt Rehbein, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Yes, a lottery pick would have helped this mix, but missing out on the potential for the top of the lottery in 2026 and ’28 could have been just as devastating.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
However, the singer decided to postpone the news after the devastating wildfires that began in Los Angeles in January.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 26 May 2025
Listen to this article 4 min Christie Brinkley is sending love to her ex-husband Billy Joel, just days after the Grammy Award winner announced a devastating diagnosis.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
At least 7 killed in Missouri A storm that produced a devastating tornado in the St. Louis area Friday afternoon has left at least five people dead and many others injured, according to local authorities.
—Matt Rehbein, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Yes, a lottery pick would have helped this mix, but missing out on the potential for the top of the lottery in 2026 and ’28 could have been just as devastating.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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In short, plenty of disastrous events can strike, often with little to no warning.—
Niki Jorgensen,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Physicist Matthew von Hippel looks not at the birth of the universe but at its destruction, outlining a disastrous world-ending scenario that makes asteroid strikes and Earth-colliding black holes look like kid stuff.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Verb
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But if enacted, some of the ideas proposed also risk destroying a nascent private sector and worsening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2025
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Online records show that Lamb was charged with homicide, kidnap-false imprisonment, evidence-destroying and procure for prostitute.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That’s overwhelming even for the most experienced investor.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
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An adventurous mix of fabrics brings warmth to the primary suite, without overwhelming the space.—
Kristen Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Of those, 11 strengthened into hurricanes and five became major hurricanes — including the massively destructive Hurricanes Helene and Milton and Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 storm on record.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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The MacGuffin of all MacGuffins, we're told the Rabbit's Foot is some sort of powerful, potentially destructive force, but its exact nature is never explained in the film.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Since March 14, severe weather has left a trail of destruction, toppling trees, demolishing homes, and igniting wildfires, the Associated Press reported.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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Education advocates and Democrats have condemned the move, and actually demolishing the agency would require an act of Congress.—
The Hill Staff,
The Hill,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On May 29, Russia launched a series of deadly attacks across Ukraine, killing at least seven civilians.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
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This prequel flashes back to a previous Christmas in Los Angeles, when their unintentional destruction of a Santa Claus parade balloon put the city on edge, wrecking the gang's plans for a massive Yuletide bank robbery.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 Dec. 2024
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The vocalist’s sole concerns related to the natural environment, the animal kingdom and humankind’s responsibility for wrecking our only home.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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