devastating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiŋ How to pronounce devastating (audio)
Definition of devastatingnext
as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction a devastating blow to our morale

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

devastating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of devastate
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example 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 devastating
Adjective
Following a devastating fire year, Oregon’s attempt to move at a breakneck pace prompted immense backlash. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Majur Traytowu is struggling to hold on to influence and authority amid a devastating alcohol epidemic ravaging her territory — and her own life. — Dan Agostini, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Lionel Messi has donated €80,000 ($92,200) to the reconstruction efforts of Madrid’s Sierra Oeste region following devastating wildfires in the area. — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 In 2018, 215 people were killed and a similar number left missing when rivers of lava poured down the volcano's slopes, devastating a nearby village. — CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
  1. disastrous
  2. ravaging
  3. destroying
  4. overwhelming
  5. destructive
  6. shattering
  7. overcoming
  8. deadly
Adjective
  • Arjun Poudel, a health reporter in Nepal, was commuting to the offices of the Kathmandu Post, in the country’s capital, when messages started coming in about a disastrous flood in his home town, close to the border with China.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since a disastrous debut, the rookie right-hander has allowed just two runs over his last 9 2/3 innings with 15 strikeouts.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Verb
  • Majur Traytowu is struggling to hold on to influence and authority amid a devastating alcohol epidemic ravaging her territory — and her own life.
    — Dan Agostini, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The boy was infected with an ultra-rare amoeba known for ravaging the brain.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravaging
Verb
  • Pumping at high speeds creates a suction vortex (upconing) that violently draws heavy sludge into the production stream, fouling piping and destroying surface pumps.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The tornado wreaked havoc in the village of 1,000 inhabitants, reducing homes to rubble and destroying numerous cars.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • After all, there’s a reason why IVF has overwhelming bipartisan support.
    — Dr. Jaime Knopman, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • To channel this sense of joyful minimalism, pair a bold color with playful accents, rich textures, and meaningful décor that brings personality to the space without overwhelming it.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Adjective
  • Those three for-profit utilities have caused at least seven of California’s 20 most destructive fires, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities in Spokane, Washington arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire in early August, which became one of the most destructive wildfires in that state's history.
    — Kirk Siegler, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of destructive
Verb
  • The video shows a customer walking out of Cinnaholic when the girls ride the scooter through the window, shattering the glass.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Wednesday, which was forecast to be the hottest day of the heat wave, brought record-shattering temperatures across the Southland.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • The discovery opens up new possibilities for heat management in next-generation quantum devices, overcoming bottlenecks faced earlier.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Wachter said some young buyers are overcoming high housing costs by looking at older homes and fixer-uppers, putting their own time and labor into improvements or even renting out part of the property to help cover costs.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcoming
Adjective
  • The death toll from a Russian strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv, the war's deadliest attack so far this year, rose to 38 with four people still missing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine launched deadly strikes in recent months on the facilities of Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries, saying the company sells dual-use goods that have aided the Kremlin’s war effort.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadly

Browse Nearby Words

devastates
devastating
devastation
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Cite this Entry

“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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