Words / B2

DEV-uh-stayt/ˈdevəsteɪt/

To devastate is to destroy a place or shock someone very badly: floods devastated the coast, she was devastated by the news. Destroy is everyday for places; devastate is stronger and also emotional. Devastating is the adjective; devastation is the noun. In speech, destroy / utterly shocked is enough. Do not use devastate for a small disappointment (a late bus), and do not confuse it with evaluate (judge).

Meaning

To destroy a place or shock someone very badly.

Examples

• “The flood devastated the coastal towns.”
• “The fire devastated the warehouse, which is why the stocktake became a write-off.”
• “He was devastated by the rejection, which is the emotional sense, not a ruined building.”

Good to know

Destroy a place, or shock someone very badly. Everyday: destroy / utterly shocked. Adjective: devastating. Not a small disappointment.

Near in meaning

destroy

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