Pronunciation: ' de-v ə - ˌ st ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -tat · ed ; -tat · ing
Etymology: Latin devastatus, past participle of devastare, from de- + vastare to lay waste ― more at WASTE
Date: 1638
1 : to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action <a country devastated by war>
2 : to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : OVERWHELM < devastated by grief> <her wisecrack devastated the class>
synonyms see RAVAGE
– dev · as · tat · ing · ly \ - ˌ st ā -ti ŋ -l ē \ adverb
– dev · as · ta · tion \ ˌ de-v ə - ' st ā -sh ə n \ noun
– dev · as · tat · ive \ ' de-v ə - ˌ st ā -tiv \ adjective
– dev · as · ta · tor \ - ˌ st ā -t ə r \ noun