adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a cruel/devastating/crushing blow (= extremely hard to bear )
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Her loss came as a devastating blow to her father.
a severe/devastating earthquake (= causing a lot of damage )
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The whole town was flattened by a devastating earthquake.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
more
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Another picture, a pen and pencil drawing, is a more devastating exposure still.
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Felipe did that in a much more devastating way.
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Nothing can be more devastating to a fighter than to be caught by his opponent midway between one stance and another.
most
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The most devastating weapon of the war All the combatant armies went to war with machine-guns.
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The deal will eliminate heavy intercontinental missiles and multiple-warhead missiles, the most devastating weapons mankind has ever devised.
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But the most devastating effect has been the reduction of the water table.
■ NOUN
blow
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A sharp run-down in the business would be a devastating blow to the local economy.
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That would be a devastating blow to the long-term unemployed.
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Her loss is a devastating blow to the standing of the monarchy.
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That was a devastating blow from which the constituency is struggling to recover.
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Shaking a little at first but gradually warming to his theme, the sacked Chancellor dealt John Major a devastating blow .
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The death of Osvaldo was a devastating blow to all Danuese patriots.
effect
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He believes any merger with Darlington could have a devastating effect on health provision for Bishop Auckland.
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But fear of crime can have a devastating effect on people's lives, and particularly on women's lives.
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All had suffered devastating effects from the war.
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Why the devastating effect of her imaginings?
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With a rule-based approach an incorrect decision can have a devastating effect on the remainder of the analysis.
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They are severe and have a devastating effect on his personality, his physical well-being and his mental state.
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But he says the payout can't begin to compensate him for the devastating effect the accident has had on his life.
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The present drop in overseas students on top of this is having a devastating effect on the school's finances.
impact
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Does he agree that that policy would have a devastating impact on people who live in the country areas of Teignbridge?
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But when we faced its devastating impact on the lives of people we knew, we had no idea what to do.
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Such a decline in forecasts of demand inevitably has a devastating impact on the need for new generating capacity.
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Bills of this size will have a devastating impact on families still struggling to fight their way out of the recession.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be a sad/tragic/devastating etc commentary on sth
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The experience of some Sunday morning services in competition with golf is a sad commentary on the bending of principle to person.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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The movie is a devastating parody of the star's life.
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The news of her sister's death was devastating .
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The oil spill had a devastating effect on sea birds and other wildlife.
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The palace was rebuilt in 1832 after a devastating fire.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Devastating was the word that sprang to mind, so devastating that she wasn't sure she could handle a second shot!
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But fear of crime can have a devastating effect on people's lives, and particularly on women's lives.
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Mafouz fell heavily to earth amidst sudden, devastating silence.
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Never before had his country had such a devastating drought.
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Oh, lord, how devastating he looked when he laughed, and how much she longed to join in.
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The long-term psychological effects of this kind of violence can be devastating .
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The stroke had a devastating effect on Stanley's life.
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This can have devastating consequences, and may cause long-term damage to the urinary tract.