Meaning & use
devastating
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Causing great damage or destruction.
Grammar: Usually used before a noun: a devastating flood.
Patterns
- devastating effect on something
- devastating consequences
A devastating earthquake destroyed much of the city.
The drought had a devastating effect on local farms.
The fire was devastating for the small town.
adjectivecomparable
Causing deep shock or sadness.
Grammar: Can be used before a noun or after a linking verb: devastating news; the news was devastating.
Patterns
- devastating news
- devastating for someone
The news of her friend's death was devastating.
The team's loss was devastating for the fans.
It was a devastating blow to lose the job after twenty years.
adjectivecomparableinformal
Extremely effective or impressive, in a way that overwhelms others.
Grammar: A more informal, often positive use: devastating wit.
Patterns
- devastating wit
- devastatingly good
Her devastating wit left the debate panel speechless.
The striker scored with a devastating shot.
He delivered a devastating reply to the criticism.
Word forms
| comparative | more devastating |
|---|---|
| superlative | most devastating |
Common combinations
- devastating effect
- The new law had a devastating effect on small shops.
- devastating blow
- The injury was a devastating blow to the team.
- devastating loss
- The family suffered a devastating loss.
- devastating news
- We received devastating news last night.
- devastating consequences
- Cutting the funding could have devastating consequences.
- devastating earthquake
- A devastating earthquake hit the region at dawn.
Synonyms and how they differ
- catastrophic
- Catastrophic is a slightly stronger, more formal word for disastrous results, often on a large scale.
- crushing
- Crushing is mostly used for defeats, disappointments and burdens, not physical destruction.
- ruinous
- Ruinous suggests something that leads to financial or total ruin.
- shattering
- Shattering is especially suited to emotional shock, such as news that breaks your confidence or hope.
Opposites
Word family
- devastate verb
- to destroy something or shock someone deeply
- devastation noun
- great destruction or damage
- devastatingly adverb
- in an extremely shocking or powerful way
- devastated adjective
- extremely shocked and upset
Commonly confused: devastating or devastated?
devastating vs devastated
Devastated describes the person who is affected, while devastating describes the thing that causes it: I was devastated by the devastating news.
Practice
Which sentence uses devastating correctly?
Choose one answer.
Devastating describes the thing that causes harm, such as a flood. The other options should use devastated, which describes how a person feels.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “devastating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.