Devastate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To devastate means to cause severe destruction, ruin, or overwhelming emotional distress. It can describe physical damage, like a storm devastating a town, or emotional harm, such as grief devastating a person.
Definition:
To destroy or cause severe damage, leaving something in ruins or overwhelming someone emotionally.
Synonyms:
ruin, destroy, wreck, ravage, overwhelm
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
build, repair
Common Collocations:
devastate a city, devastate a family, devastate the environment
Derivatives:
devastation, devastating, devastatingly
Usage Tips:
Use "devastate" for extreme destruction or emotional impact; avoid for minor damage or inconvenience.
Common Phrases:
leave devastated, utterly devastated, devastate by fire
Etymology:
From Latin *devastare*, meaning "to lay waste," from *de-* (thoroughly) + *vastare* (to ravage).
Examples:
- 1. The hurricane will devastate the coastal town if it hits directly.
- 2. The news of his death devastated her completely.
- 3. War can devastate entire countries and their economies.
- 4. The wildfire continues to devastate forests and wildlife habitats.