devastating

[ dev-uh-stey-ting ]

See synonyms for devastating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending or threatening to devastate: a devastating fire.
satirical, ironic, or caustic in an effective way: a devastating portrayal of society.

Origin of devastating

First recorded in 1625–35; devastat(e) + -ing²

Other words from devastating

dev·as·tat·ing·ly, adverb
un·dev·as·tat·ing, adjective
un·dev·as·tat·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use devastating in a sentence

This astonishingly simple yet devastatingly graphic representation of mass carnage attracts many thousands of visitors every day.
Blood and War: The Hard Truth About ‘Boots on the Ground’ | Clive Irving | September 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It turns out poor, devastatingly handsome, AIDS-stricken Ted was Jewish.
The MVPs of Sleaze Are Back: FXX's 'The League' Ups the Degenerate Ante | Emily Shire | September 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When it comes to crafting a raucous, devastatingly brutal insult, he is a Shakespeare.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing | Kevin Fallon | April 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Shows like that are designed to have fun with you without being devastatingly unkind.
Best Bits From George Clooney’s Suave And Funny Reddit AMA | Marina Watts | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Need we say he looks even more devastatingly handsome than usual?
Check Out Prince Harry's MASSIVE New Polar Beard! | Tom Sykes | December 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

A sing-song Welsh voice commented devastatingly on the vanity of bottle-green dress-coats and their wearers.
Lady Lilith | Stephen McKenna
It then passed slowly and devastatingly down the hall and drive.
More William | Richmal Crompton
She crushed the berry and the rich aroma swept devastatingly through the air.
The Impossible Voyage Home | Floyd L. Wallace
And as for the season—McKellar could not remember such a devastatingly dry August since he was a lad at home.
The Beauty and the Bolshevist | Alice Duer Miller
It would be devastatingly produced on the occasion of a row, but Sally rarely quarrelled.
Coquette | Frank Swinnerton

British Dictionary definitions for devastating

devastating

/ (ˈdɛvəˌsteɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

extremely effective in a destructive way: a devastating war; a devastating report on urban deprivation

Derived forms of devastating

devastatingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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