devastation

UK: /ˌdɛvəˈsteɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌdɛvəˈsteɪʃən/ ,(dev′ə stā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dev•as•ta•tion  (dev′ə stā′shən), n. 

1. the act of devastating;
   destruction.
2. devastated state;
   desolation.

• Late Latin dēvastātiōn- (stem of dēvastātiō), equivalent. to Latin dēvastāt(us) (see devastate) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English 1425–75

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dev•as•tate /ˈdɛvəˌsteɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -tat•ed, -tat•ing. 

1. to destroy terribly; ruin:
   The fire devastated the city.
2. to overwhelm;
   crush:
   This latest piece of bad news devastated us.

dev•as•ta•tion /ˌdɛvəˈsteɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] devastation caused by the earthquake.

dev•as•ta•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dev•as•tate  (dev′ə stāt′), v.t., -tat•ed, -tat•ing. 

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

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

dev′as•ta′tive, adj. 
dev′as•ta′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. destroy, sack, despoil. See ravage.