devastating
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for devastating, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Causing severe destruction or distress.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use devastating
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “devastating” mean?
The word “devastating” means causing severe destruction or distress. In plain terms, extremely destructive or upsetting.
How do you use “devastating” in a sentence?
Here is “devastating” used in a sentence: “The earthquake had a devastating effect on the local economy.”
What part of speech is “devastating”?
“Devastating” is an adjective.
Is “devastating” a common word?
“Devastating” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between devastating and devastated?
Devastating describes the cause of severe destruction or distress, such as a devastating storm, while devastated describes the state of something or someone after being affected by it, such as a devastated community. Devastating is active in effect; devastated is the resulting condition.
What is the difference between devastating and catastrophic?
Devastating and catastrophic both describe severe destruction or distress, but catastrophic more strongly emphasises scale and disaster, often for large-scale events, while devastating can apply just as naturally to personal or emotional impact, such as devastating news.
Can devastating describe emotional as well as physical harm?
Yes, devastating is used for both physical destruction, such as a devastating earthquake, and emotional distress, such as devastating news or a devastating loss. The word captures severity regardless of whether the harm is physical or emotional.