devastate
Lay completely waste
Devastate means to destroy or ruin completely.
A hurricane devastates a coastal town; grief devastates a family.
The destruction can be physical or emotional: The news devastated her.
Devastated often describes overwhelming shock or disappointment: I was devastated when I didn't get the job.
Devastating can mean extremely effective: a devastating critique, a devastating serve.
Destroy completely
- obliterateDestroy all traces of
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
- razeDestroy completely
- pulverizeCrush to powder
decimate · shatter · eradicate · flatten · incinerate · exterminate · dismantle · level
Overwhelmed with grief
- crushedCompressed into fragments
- shatteredBroken into fragments
- grief-strickenOverwhelmed by profound loss
- anguishedSeverely emotionally distressed
despairing · inconsolable · bereft · distraught · gutted · traumatized · shell-shocked · reeling
Large-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- degradationDecline in condition
desertification · contamination · ecosystem collapse · biodiversity loss · coral bleaching · oil spill · clear-cutting · overfishing
Attack with explosives
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- scorched earthDestroy all useful resources
- carpet bombingWidespread aerial bombardment
blitz · shelling · occupation · invasion · genocide · massacre · casualties · refugees
Unable to repay debts
- ruinedDamaged beyond recovery
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- insolventUnable to pay debts
- collapseSudden structural failure
depression · recession · foreclosure · destitution · unemployment · austerity · inflation · crash
demolish
Destroy completely
- obliterateDestroy all traces of
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
- razeDestroy completely
pulverize · decimate · shatter · eradicate · flatten · incinerate · exterminate · dismantle · level · wreck
heartbroken
Overwhelmed with grief
- crushedCompressed into fragments
- shatteredBroken into fragments
- grief-strickenOverwhelmed by profound loss
anguished · despairing · inconsolable · bereft · distraught · gutted · traumatized · shell-shocked · reeling · crestfallen
deforestation
Large-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
degradation · desertification · contamination · ecosystem collapse · biodiversity loss · coral bleaching · oil spill · clear-cutting · overfishing · erosion
bombing
Attack with explosives
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- scorched earthDestroy all useful resources
carpet bombing · blitz · shelling · occupation · invasion · genocide · massacre · casualties · refugees · ruins
bankrupt
Unable to repay debts
- ruinedDamaged beyond recovery
- impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
- insolventUnable to pay debts
collapse · depression · recession · foreclosure · destitution · unemployment · austerity · inflation · crash · bust
- Destroydestroy, annihilate, obliterate, demolish, ruin
- destruction verbsdestroy, demolish, wreck, ruin, smash
- violent forceimpact, collision, smash, crash, slam
- dominateovercome, surpass, subdue, prevail, conquer
- outdo someoneoutshine, outclass, outdo, eclipse, surpass
- degradebelittle, demean, humiliate, degrade, debase
devastatebuild
Create a structure
construct · restore · rebuild · repair · reconstruct
- economic devastationSevere harm to an economy
devastation, devastating, devastated, devastates, devastations, devastator, devastators