Basic Details
Word: Devastating
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Causing great damage or destruction; also, very shocking or upsetting to someone.
Synonyms: destructive, ruinous, crushing, shattering
Antonyms: harmless, mild, minor
Word origin: From Latin devastare, to lay waste completely.
How to Spell Devastating
Syllables: dev - as - tat - ing
Tricky part: The vowel after the v is an a, though it often sounds like e, so devestating is a common slip. The final e of devastate is dropped before ing.
Watch out for: devestating, devastateing, devasting
Memory tip: Look for the word vast hiding inside: de + vast + ating. A devastating storm does vast damage.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The earthquake had a devastating effect on the hill villages.
Example 2: Losing his notes the night before the exam was devastating for Arjun.
Example 3: Locusts can cause devastating damage to crops in just a few days.
Fun Fact
The Latin verb vastare, to lay waste, is the same family that gave English the word waste.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
dev_st_ting
a) a, a
b) e, a
c) a, e
d) i, a
Show answer
a) a, a. Both gaps take an a: dev-as-tat-ing, even though the first one is said lightly.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word devastating as used in the sentence:
The cyclone had a devastating impact on the coconut farms along the coast.
a) trivial
b) ruinous
c) welcome
d) temporary
Show answer
b) ruinous. A ruinous impact destroys things, which is what the cyclone did; trivial is close to the opposite.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Losing the final in the last over was a gsitvandeta blow for the young team.
a) deviating
b) devastating
c) dedicating
d) decorating
Show answer
b) devastating. The jumble holds both an s and a v, and of the four words only devastating has the pair.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A devastating flood is one that ____.
a) fills a small pond
b) lasts only an hour
c) causes huge damage
d) brings useful rain
Show answer
c) causes huge damage
2. Which word is closest to devastated when it describes how a person feels?
a) heartbroken
b) comfortable
c) contented
d) adventurous
Show answer
a) heartbroken
