devastate
verb
dev·as·tate
ˈde-və-ˌstāt 
devastated; devastating
1
: to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action
a country devastated by war
The typhoon devastated the island.
2
: to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : overwhelm
devastated by grief
Her wisecrack devastated the class.
Examples of devastate in a Sentence
The flood devastated the town.
The disease has devastated the area's oak tree population.
The hurricane left the island completely devastated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year, parts of the U.S. were devastated by hurricanes such as Helene and Milton.
—
Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The Asheville area was devastated in September by Hurricane Helene, with thousands of people displaced and businesses destroyed or temporarily closed.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
The video was filmed in Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, which was devastated by the powerful Hurricane Otis in October 2023.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2025
Her disappearance has left her parents devastated, sparked a media frenzy and wide-ranging speculation over just what could have happened to the young woman who was last seen on a beach with a man about her age.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
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Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The Asheville area was devastated in September by Hurricane Helene, with thousands of people displaced and businesses destroyed or temporarily closed.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
The video was filmed in Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, which was devastated by the powerful Hurricane Otis in October 2023.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2025
Her disappearance has left her parents devastated, sparked a media frenzy and wide-ranging speculation over just what could have happened to the young woman who was last seen on a beach with a man about her age.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devastate
Cite this Entry
“Devastate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devastate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
devastate
verb
dev·as·tate
ˈdev-ə-ˌstāt
devastated; devastating
1
: to reduce to ruin : lay waste
2
: overwhelm sense 2, overpower
devastated by grief
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