Devastation (Noun)
Meaning 1
An event that results in total destruction.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The hurricane left a trail of devastation in its wake, destroying entire neighborhoods and leaving thousands homeless.
- The fire caused devastation throughout the city block, gutting building after building and forcing many businesses to shut down.
- The earthquake's devastation was widespread, with entire cities reduced to rubble and countless lives lost.
- The war brought devastation to the small village, leaving it in ruins and displacing its entire population.
- The flood's devastation was evident as families surveyed the damage to their homes and livelihoods, some of which had been utterly destroyed.
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Meaning 2
The state of being decayed or destroyed.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The aftermath of the hurricane revealed a scene of utter devastation, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
- Years of neglect and poor maintenance had left the once-majestic mansion in a state of advanced devastation, its walls cracked and crumbling.
- The devastated landscape stretched as far as the eye could see, a barren wasteland devoid of life or hope.
- The community was left to survey the devastation of the tornado's aftermath, the loss of life and property staggering.
- Centuries of environmental abuse had led to the devastation of the ancient forest, leaving behind only a few scattered trees as a reminder of its former glory.
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Meaning 3
Plundering with excessive damage and destruction.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The Vikings' raids brought widespread devastation to the coastal towns they pillaged.
- The aftermath of the war showed scenes of devastation, with buildings reduced to rubble and entire neighborhoods left in ruin.
- The storm made landfall with Category 5 winds, causing unparalleled devastation in the city, destroying everything in its path.
- As the locusts ravaged the fields, they left in their wake a trail of devastation, decimating entire crops.
- The guerrilla warfare left entire cities scarred and marred, victims of years of continued plunder and devastation.
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Meaning 4
The feeling of being confounded or overwhelmed; "her departure left him in utter devastation".
Classification
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions.
Examples
- The news of the natural disaster left the community in a state of devastation, struggling to comprehend the scale of the destruction.
- Her sudden breakup with her long-term partner left her in utter devastation, unable to eat or sleep for days.
- The company's bankruptcy announcement caused widespread devastation among its employees, many of whom had invested their life savings in the business.
- The loss of his beloved pet left him in a state of devastation, and he spent weeks trying to come to terms with the grief.
- The devastating diagnosis of a terminal illness left the family in a state of devastation, unsure of how to cope with the impending loss.
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Meaning 5
The termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The devastating earthquake brought widespread devastation to the coastal city, leaving thousands of buildings in ruins.
- The war caused devastation to the economy, resulting in a sharp decline in living standards for the entire population.
- The devastation caused by the fire was so severe that the factory was forced to shut down permanently.
- The tsunami's devastation was so extreme that entire villages were swept away, leaving nothing but debris in its wake.
- The news of the company's bankruptcy was met with devastation from its employees, many of whom had spent their entire careers working there.
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Hyponyms
- Annihilation
- Demolishing
- Ruination
- Tearing Down
- Decimation
- Sabotage
- Holocaust
- Vandalism
- Neutralization
- Extermination
- Spoliation
- Ruining
- Self-destruction
- Wrecking
- Laying Waste
- Malicious Mischief
- Razing
- Demolition
- Kill
- Disaster