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
  • Images of Helene's path of destruction initially shocked Church and Combs.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
  • The facts are clear: Marylanders stand to gain no benefit from this proposal, yet our state will bear the brunt of its environmental destruction and economic damage to agritourism and farming, our top Maryland industry.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Their grievances justify lawbreaking, havoc, rampage.
    Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Long lamented the havoc wreaked on motorists, who will be affected by the partial bridge closure well into 2025.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Jim Harbaugh’s news conference after the Chargers’ 40-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday was part postgame recap and part pregame look-ahead.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Such outages are defined as those affecting at least 50,000 homes or businesses, or causing at least a 300-megawatt loss of power.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of loss
Noun
  • According to an assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Western monarch population has plummeted by more than 95% since the 1980s, and has a 99% chance of extinction by 2080.
    Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Like mammoths, mastodons disappeared toward the end of the last ice age, when a series of factors, including climate change and human hunting, drove many large animals to extinction, as Jess Thomson reports for Newsweek.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of extinction
Noun
  • But as construction work began, starting with the demolition of the 1866 piers earlier this year, some vocal opposition, bolstered by rail startup with ambitious plans to privatize Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor, demanded a halt to their removal.
    Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Included in the plans is the possible demolition of the Twitty mansion, which concerned commission leaders due to wanting to preserve the tradition and history of Hendersonville.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
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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Cite this Entry

“Devastation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastation. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

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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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