devastation

noun

Definition of devastationnext
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the sheer devastation of the housing development by the forest fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastation
  1. destruction
  2. havoc
  3. loss
  4. extinction
  5. demolition
Noun
  • Teddy and Andy Leonard, owners of the Reel Inn, confirmed the destruction of their restaurant on Instagram, and stated that all of their restaurant staff were safe.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The 2025 Field & Stream lineup comes after last year’s festival (which was to be its inaugural year) was postponed due to the destruction Hurricane Helene brought to the Carolinas and other states.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Given Udoka’s obsession with creating as much defensive havoc as possible, this makes sense.
    Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Now, as billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk continues to play havoc with crypto markets, fears have emerged China could have beaten Donald Trump and the U.S. to creating a bitcoin reserve.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, tasked with a review of the potential acquisition, shared concerns about the national security risks posed by the loss of the country's second-largest steel producer.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Luxury shares, in particular, were hit hard by the high-end slowdown and weakness in China, delivering share losses to even the mighty LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which fell 11.7 percent.
    Evan Clark, WWD, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of loss
Noun
  • Today, their greatest threat is not humans entering their waters but the overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change that push them closer to the brink of extinction.
    Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • More than 40 percent of warm-water, reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature revealed this past November.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of extinction
Noun
  • The current plan is to use Monarch Hill for construction and demolition debris, although there are five other locations in Broward County that accept it.
    Michelle Gale, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Willis said the shelter at this point is encouraging monetary donations from the community as staff figures out the costs associated with demolition, construction and other services including renting storage spaces.
    Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of demolition
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near devastation

devastating

devastation

devastations

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“Devastation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on devastation

Nglish: Translation of devastation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of devastation for Arabic Speakers

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