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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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
Didn't take many hits, didn't take any devastating hits at least, and so feeling good. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The wide availability of low-cost, powerful open models is one reason Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that open models in particular pose a risk of widespread and potentially devastating cyber attacks. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Military force has imposed enormous costs on both Hamas and Iran, devastating their military facilities and killing their commanders. — Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026 The country is also recovering from devastating back-to-back earthquakes in June that have so far killed over 6,000 people. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 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
  • Prolonged pump stoppages could lead to a disastrous local scenario of ruptured water supply, district heating, and sewage pipes, even if electricity remains available elsewhere in the country.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, the Royals are sitting at home after a disastrous 69-93 campaign.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Verb
  • For weeks an autoimmune disease doctors couldn’t explain had been attacking his thyroid and ravaging his intestines.
    — Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Across the country, climate change is ravaging ecosystems, bringing more robust storms, rising sea levels, record-setting conflagrations and fatal heat waves.
    — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of ravaging
Verb
  • One crab can eat more than 40 juvenile soft-shell clams in a day, while also destroying seagrass habitats.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And then a seven-hour-long GRB came along—acting like a Death Star whose planet-destroying beam refused to switch off—that defied all explanation.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • The Arlington Heights Yellow Jackets (8-0, 4-0 District 4 5A-1) continued their dominant season Thursday night, overwhelming the Trimble Tech Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 District 4 5A-1) 72-0 to remain undefeated.
    — Aliza Acuna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Western and workwear references ran through the lineup without overwhelming its sporty foundation.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Adjective
  • What differentiates this wave of sudden wealth syndrome from the dot-com era, DiFuria said, is that people are making money from a technology many consider destructive—including some of the people building it.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In one memorable scene, Mari takes to a whiteboard to explain the destructive workings of capitalism, a lengthy, potentially didactic exercise that Okamoto transforms into an unexpectedly intimate exchange.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of destructive
Verb
  • Not since the Tesla Cybertruck made its glass-shattering debut in 2019 has a vehicle’s unveiling proven as polarizing as the Luce event.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The move came after a fireball erupted at this past New Year’s event, shattering windows and injuring a child in downtown Boise.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • His early story is known as one of overcoming difficult circumstances and finding a creative outlet in music.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The song addresses overcoming adversity and using others’ doubts to fuel your passion.
    — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcoming
Adjective
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Memories are fresh of the nationwide protests sparked by economic pressures that led to a deadly crackdown weeks before the war.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of deadly

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devastating
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Cite this Entry

“Devastating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devastating. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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