# devastated

/ˈdɛvəˌsteɪtɪd/ (US) · /dˈɛvəstˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/devastated
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. emotionally crushed

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling extremely shocked, sad, and upset.

For teachers: overwhelmed by emotional distress, grief, or shock. Typically used as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

- She was devastated when she heard the news that she didn't get the job.
- The family was utterly devastated by the sudden loss, struggling to process the news in the quiet aftermath of the accident.

### 2. physically ruined

adjective · CEFR B2

completely destroyed or badly damaged.

For teachers: having been subjected to total destruction or severe damage; ravaged.

- The town was devastated by the flood, leaving many people without homes.
- The landscape remained devastated for years after the volcanic eruption, with grey ash covering what used to be lush green forests.

### 3. to destroy or upset

verb · CEFR B2

the past tense of 'devastate', meaning to cause great damage or sadness.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'devastate', meaning to lay waste or to overwhelm with grief.

- The hurricane devastated the coast, pulling down trees and power lines.
- The scandal devastated his reputation, effectively ending his political career before the next election cycle could even begin.

Usage: As a verb, it requires a direct object.

## Examples

- She was devastated when she heard the bad news.
- The local farmers were devastated after the unexpected frost destroyed their entire harvest for the season.
- While the city's infrastructure remained intact, the community was emotionally devastated by the loss of their historic library in the fire.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.