devastate

verb

ˈde-və-ˌstāt How to pronounce devastate (audio)
Definition of devastatenext
1
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
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 to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress we were devastated by the awful news of his death

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb devastate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of devastate are despoil, pillage, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

In what contexts can despoil take the place of devastate?

While the synonyms despoil and devastate are close in meaning, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of devastate?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When would ravage be a good substitute for devastate?

The words ravage and devastate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to devastate?

Although the words sack and devastate have much in common, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

When is waste a more appropriate choice than devastate?

While in some cases nearly identical to devastate, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devastate On the ground, Gazans, still struggling with basic survival after the Israeli military campaign in response to the deadly 2023 Hamas attack on Israel devastated the enclave, remained sceptical, saying little had changed. — Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The northeastern part of the state is mostly under a severe drought as the area continues to be devastated by wildfires. — Aki Nace, CBS News, 30 July 2026 When hurricanes devastated the area in 1900 and 1915, the oyster industry remained strong. — Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 29 July 2026 Disease and violence devastated Native populations, while their concentration into missions changed how survivors lived. — Literary Hub, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for devastate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate
  1. ravage
  2. destroy
  3. overwhelm
  4. ruin
  5. overcome
  6. demolish
  7. shatter
  8. wreck
Verb
  • In Tenet, warriors from the future punish the present because their world is ravaged by climate change caused by us, their ancestors.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
  • Set against a backdrop of turbulent transition as the Middle Ages move into modernity, the film follows the three men on their long and arduous journey, across a Europe ravaged by wars and uprisings, to Versailles.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 28 July 2026
Definition of ravage
Verb
  • Spider-Man teams up with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to take down the green giant and stop the him from destroying the Damage Control skyscraper entirely.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • An official for Green Diamond Resources similarly said her company has no intention of destroying the bird’s habitat.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • That brightness will overwhelm many of the faint Delta Aquariid meteors, leaving only the brightest examples visible.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • This was often seen as a proxy for player skill, as more advanced players could better handle the cognitive rush of commanding dozens of units across multiple fronts, presumably leading to more effective play, eventually overwhelming the opponent.
    — Nnamdi Iregbulem, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • Being asked to prove yourself to AI can play havoc on your confidence and ruin your chances of getting your foot in the door.
    — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Given that the Touch Bar is no more, this stumbling block was never satisfactorily overcome.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Reclaiming Progress Park required overcoming years of lived experience.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
  • The Rike Concert Hall in Tbilisi, Georgia, is set to be demolished.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 21 July 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • Twenty-nine single-family homes sold for $30 million or more in Miami-Dade in 2025, shattering the previous record of 15 homes in 2024.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Oil prices — which had eased from last week’s the two-month high — rebounded as a brief pause in fighting in the Iran war was shattered.
    — Yuri Kageyama, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • Elsewhere, La’An continues her investigation via Harper’s personal video log, an effort that takes a disturbing turn when Harper addresses her directly while Kirk sees that their shuttle has been wrecked.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026
  • Etna’s country prevails but is demolished in the process; its people and animals are left wrecked, hungry, and homeless.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of wreck

Browse Nearby Words

devaluing
devastate
devastated
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Cite this Entry

“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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