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Definition of devastating

devastating

/ˈdɛv.ə.steɪ.tɪŋ/
dev · as · tat · ing
Adverb:devastatingly
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devastating Lexical Profile

devastating Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing severe, widespread physical damage, ruin, or destruction.

Example

"The coastal region took several years to rebuild after the devastating hurricane."

2

Causing severe shock, overwhelming grief, or intense emotional distress.

Example

"Receiving the unexpected rejection letter was a devastating blow to the young researcher."

3

Highly effective, incisive, or overwhelmingly impressive in impact or appearance.

Example

"The defense attorney delivered a devastating critique of the prosecution's main argument."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

devalue
devastate
devastated
devastating
devastatingly
devastation
devastator

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the present participle of the verb 'devastate', which derives from the Latin 'devastare' ('to lay waste completely'), combining 'de-' ('thoroughly') and 'vastare' ('to lay waste', from 'vastus', meaning 'empty' or 'desolate').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Devastating. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/devastating
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