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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastating
Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025
For example, the insurance company has received nearly 13,000 claims and paid out more than $4.2 billion to California homeowners who suffered losses during the devastating wildfires that raged across the Los Angeles area in January, according to an update posted last week on its website.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
The North Rim of the park remains closed while crews continue to battle devastating wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
The number of missing persons stands at 101 more than one week after the devastating flooding that struck Texas.
—ABC News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
Here's what to know about the devastating wildfire.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025
For example, the insurance company has received nearly 13,000 claims and paid out more than $4.2 billion to California homeowners who suffered losses during the devastating wildfires that raged across the Los Angeles area in January, according to an update posted last week on its website.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
The North Rim of the park remains closed while crews continue to battle devastating wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
The number of missing persons stands at 101 more than one week after the devastating flooding that struck Texas.
—ABC News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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And yes, it must also be said that domestic and feral cats have been disastrous to the world's biodiversity, having contributed to the extinction of 40 bird and 21 mammal species – 26% of the extinctions in these groups – since the 1600s.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 July 2025
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Hunt was the site of particularly disastrous flooding early in the morning on July 4, with officials saying the river swelled more than 20 feet in less than an hour and ultimately killed at least 103 people countywide, including dozens of children at a riverside summer camp called Camp Mystic.—
July 13,
CBS News,
13 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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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
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That’s overwhelming even for the most experienced investor.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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High-ranking German officials recognized what many contemporaries refused to see: that passive compliance with destructive systems was itself a moral choice.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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In the wake of the record-breaking wildfires in Los Angeles in January—some of the most expensive and destructive blazes in history—one of the first things California governor Gavin Newsom did was to sign an executive order suspending environmental rules around rebuilding.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
19 July 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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Wetlands need restoration to once again catch phosphorus that pours from extinct volcanoes and prevent the growth of deadly algae.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 2025
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Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention - From a dance battle to a blood fest, this breakdown will show how each department worked together to create this epic and deadly sequence.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.
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