devastate

[ dev-uh-steyt ]
/ ˈdɛv əˌsteɪt /

verb (used with object), dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing.

to lay waste; render desolate: The invaders devastated the city.
to overwhelm.

Origin of devastate

1625–35; < Latin dēvastātus laid waste (past participle of dēvastāre), equivalent to dē- de- + vast(āre) to lay waste (akin to vastus empty) + -ātus -ate1

synonym study for devastate

1. See ravage.

OTHER WORDS FROM devastate

dev·as·ta·tive, adjective dev·as·ta·tor, noun un·dev·as·tat·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for devastated

British Dictionary definitions for devastated

devastate
/ (ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt) /

verb (tr)

to lay waste or make desolate; ravage; destroy
to confound or overwhelm, as with grief or shock

Derived forms of devastate

devastation, noun devastative, adjective devastator, noun

Word Origin for devastate

C17: from Latin dēvastāre, from de- + vastāre to ravage; related to vastus waste, empty