as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
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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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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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of devastating
Daniela X. Sandoval, The Mercury News, 17 Dec. 2024
The Dalan vaccine defends against a devastating bacterial disease aptly named American Foulbrood, and Kleiser sees it as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The Human and Ecological Toll of Plastics The consequences of plastic waste are devastating for ecosystems and human communities alike.
—David Carlin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
The trade group’s panel on formaldehyde also complained that regulation would be devastating for business.
—Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devastating 
Adjective
After help from a GoFundMe, owner Brad Johnson opened the store again on Nov. 30 after a devastating July 2024 fire at his previous location.
—Daniela X. Sandoval, The Mercury News, 17 Dec. 2024
The Dalan vaccine defends against a devastating bacterial disease aptly named American Foulbrood, and Kleiser sees it as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The Human and Ecological Toll of Plastics The consequences of plastic waste are devastating for ecosystems and human communities alike.
—David Carlin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
The trade group’s panel on formaldehyde also complained that regulation would be devastating for business.
—Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
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While Norris and Piastri scored points regularly, Red Bull’s defense of its title was hampered by Sergio Perez’s disastrous form, with the Mexican’s last podium coming in the sprint race in Miami.Dan Cancian, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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But the film’s poisonous reviews and disastrous box office all but torpedoed her Oscar hopes this year, and the film was shut out in Monday’s Globe nominations.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The wildfire ignited Monday and has expanded at an alarming rate, burning more than 3,000 acres with 0% containment and destroying at least seven structures.Alexandra Banner, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
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This includes destructive behavior such as chewing and destroying furniture as well as things like howling and barking.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, many organizations have struggled to manage the volume of projects, overwhelming their capacity.Barry Cousins, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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This rhythm adds intrigue and subtly signals attention without overwhelming the other person.Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But the end of Kings of Tupelo demonstrates once again how destructive—and addictive—the pull of conspiracy theories can be.Barry Levitt, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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To be sure, there’s no need to cross the line and be complicit in any antisocial, unethical, or destructive behaviors.Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The project involves demolishing a great deal of real estate.David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
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They were made by each other by reverently mythologizing their history while also irreverently demolishing it to make way for whatever was new and next, like a postwar building that’s periodically renovated to keep up with trends.David LaChapelle, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Still, Penny grabbed him from behind and put him in a deadly chokehold.Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
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Assad's downfall, if it's confirmed, also marks the latest stunning development in one of the deadliest civil wars of the 21st century.Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But when this tournament comes to an end, the Bulls either have to change course or risk wrecking their plans completely.Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Nov. 2024
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But his vision of wrecking Israel with the help of Iran and other proxy forces backfired badly.Alexander Smith, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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