verb

devastate

DEHV-uh-stayt

verb

To destroy something on a large scale.

"The hurricane devastated coastal towns along the whole region."

To leave someone deeply shocked and upset.

"The news of her father's death devastated the whole family."

How to Use Devastate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wreck something completely, or to emotionally crush someone.

Common pairings

devastate a region devastate a community utterly devastated

devastated past tense, devastates singular

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The hurricane _____ coastal towns along the whole region.

From Latin devastare ("to lay waste"), from de- + vastare ("to destroy"), related to "vast".

decimate destroy raze ruin

create kill build found ruin destroy decimate nurture

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decimate destroy raze ruin create kill build found nurture