devastated
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.feeling extremely shocked, sad, and upset.
adj.overwhelmed by emotional distress, grief, or shock. Typically used as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.
Simple“She was devastated when she heard the news that she didn't get the job.”
In context“The family was utterly devastated by the sudden loss, struggling to process the news in the quiet aftermath of the accident.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.completely destroyed or badly damaged.
adj.having been subjected to total destruction or severe damage; ravaged.
Simple“The town was devastated by the flood, leaving many people without homes.”
In context“The landscape remained devastated for years after the volcanic eruption, with grey ash covering what used to be lush green forests.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.the past tense of 'devastate', meaning to cause great damage or sadness.
v.the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'devastate', meaning to lay waste or to overwhelm with grief.
Simple“The hurricane devastated the coast, pulling down trees and power lines.”
In context“The scandal devastated his reputation, effectively ending his political career before the next election cycle could even begin.”
UsageAs a verb, it requires a direct object.
Synonyms
“The country has already been devastated by fires in recent weeks, with the blazes causing more damage this year than at any time since World War Two.”
“Photograph: John Jairo Bonilla/AP Neighbouring Venezuela was struck on 24 June by twin earthquakes that devastated the country’s northern coast, killing more than 6,000 people.”