DEVASTATE Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

devastate

verb

ˈde-və-ˌstāt

Definition of devastate next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Examples 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 Sitting in a hotel restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, in early August — just weeks before the mountain town was devastated by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters — Earley is preparing to perform at the 2024 AVLfest. —

Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024 The state, one of a handful of battlegrounds that are expected to determine control of the White House and Congress in Tuesday’s election, was devastated economically by the pandemic because of its reliance on tourism. —

Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 The region was devastated by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, with some nearby communities, like Busick, North Carolina reporting more than 30 inches of rainfall, which caused historic rates of flooding. —

Solcyré Burga, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 The storm devastated western North Carolina—almost half of deaths due to Helene were in North Carolina, and 42 were in Buncombe County where Asheville is located, according to The Associated Press. —

Chantelle Lee, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for devastate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastate

Verb

His family was living the reality unfolding before his eyes—his beloved homeland ravaged, night after night.

David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Spain, despite storms that have ravaged the Valencia region, brought in $937K from 291 screens at No. 5 for the weekend.

Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024