devastating
Americanadjective
-
tending or threatening to devastate.
a devastating fire.
-
satirical, ironic, or caustic in an effective way.
a devastating portrayal of society.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- devastatingly adverb
- undevastating adjective
- undevastatingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of devastating
First recorded in 1625–35; devastat(e) + -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Given the devastating combination of big scoring and clinical finishing that Price has shown in recent weeks, it is little surprise that no-one but Littler has beaten him in the Premier League since week four.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Even if the harms are as devastating as some argue, it doesn’t necessarily follow that blanket bans will effectively mitigate these harms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
But these attacks are also having a devastating impact on civilians living nearby.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Through Valerie, Kudrow slyly performs our terminal habit of downgrading devastating developments to champagne problems, merrily chirping her character’s catchphrase, “How’s that?”
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
But despite the real and devastating effects of the meltdown, forms of power other than nuclear fission may pose a greater threat to Japan.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
