devastate
verb
[ ˈdɛvəsteɪt ]
• destroy or ruin.
• "the city was devastated by a huge earthquake"
Similar:
destroy,
ruin,
leave in ruins,
wreck,
lay waste,
wreak havoc on,
ravage,
ransack,
leave desolate,
demolish,
raze (to the ground),
level,
flatten,
annihilate,
• cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief.
• "she was devastated by the loss of Damian"
Similar:
shatter,
shock,
stun,
daze,
dumbfound,
traumatize,
crush,
overwhelm,
overcome,
greatly upset,
distress,
knock for six,
knock sideways,
knock the stuffing out of,
Origin:
mid 17th century: from Latin devastat- ‘laid waste’, from the verb devastare, from de- ‘thoroughly’ + vastare ‘lay waste’.
