as in disastrous
causing or tending to cause destruction
a devastating blow to our morale
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ravaging
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Najib headed security forces in Daraa province in 2011, when teenagers were arrested and tortured for antigovernment graffiti, sparking mass protests that escalated into Syria’s devastating civil war.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
For this woman, devastating in her humanity and dignity throughout the four months of the extraordinary trial, who was propelled into becoming a global icon in the fight against the violence done to women, the time has now come to rebuild.
—Time, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Adjective
The ultimate scene packs a punch here — without spoiling things, Abigail Onwunali is particularly powerful in a role that Wilson saves till the eleventh hour, and Boone goes to places at once frightening and devastating.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Najib headed security forces in Daraa province in 2011, when teenagers were arrested and tortured for antigovernment graffiti, sparking mass protests that escalated into Syria’s devastating civil war.
—Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
Political battles over programs like the Affordable Care Act, which attempted to codify a similar focus on preventive care, show how federal gridlock fuels the very cuts now devastating local health budgets.
—Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
For this woman, devastating in her humanity and dignity throughout the four months of the extraordinary trial, who was propelled into becoming a global icon in the fight against the violence done to women, the time has now come to rebuild.
—Time, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devastating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devastating
Adjective
-
After last year’s disastrous Eaton fire, Southern California Edison executives vowed to be transparent about what caused the inferno that killed at least 19 people and left thousands of families homeless in Altadena.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Sturm then gave Swayman the mercy pull, which frankly could have happened after the disastrous first.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Taiwanese friends have told me that the tariffs are ravaging their businesses.—
Michelle Kuo,
The Dial,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Miles manages to lift up Lily and get her out of there, MPKs start hurling flash-bangs, destroying the Ed Baldwin shrine and shooting a couple of protesters in the process.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Ukrainian forces are systematically striking Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities over 600 miles inside Russia, destroying tens of billions in infrastructure and disrupting Moscow’s war finances.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dedicating one corner of the patio to a dense cluster of plants creates a lush focal point without overwhelming the rest of the space.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Critics are also worried about the building height overwhelming the area.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plane hitting the water is destructive enough without the help of a jagged coral reef (improbably far from any coastline) slicing through the aircraft’s undercarriage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This is a classic destructive straight-line wind setup, and strong storms will certainly be possible.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a race for the ages, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday, shattering the previous men’s world record by an astonishing 65 seconds.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Kenyan runner won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, shattering the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Finally, in overcoming this vexing moment, the two would establish a painterly repartee that altered the trajectory of their own work and, by extension, modern art.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But overcoming perceptions that lithium-ion battery technology is inherently dangerous has proven challenging, and developers sometimes fuel mistrust by dismissing residents’ concerns about fire, toxic threats and the industrialization of natural landscapes.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Determining how the teen died took time, and after months of additional investigation, prosecutors announced charges against D4vd that allege her murder was a premeditated attempt to keep her from ruining his music career by exposing their underage relationship.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
