devastating

USAGE SUMMARY

'devastating' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that has been severely damaged, destroyed, or made worse. For example: "The floods were devastating, destroying the homes and livelihoods of thousands of people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was absolutely devastating.

The New York Times

El Salvador's preparations for their trip to Spain were, of course, hampered by the war that was devastating the country.

The Guardian - Sport

Though devastating for the dinosaurs, the asteroid strike cleared the way for other animals to gain ground and thrive on the planet.

The Guardian

Over the four decades since, Ebola has emerged sporadically, each time to devastating effect.

The Guardian

Speaking to the BBC on Monday from New York, where he works as president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, Miliband said last week's election result was "devastating" for the Labour party and its supporters.

The Guardian

It had the chutzpah of Charlie Adam's 65-yard missile against Chelsea, the touch and technique of Wayne Rooney's swivelling volley against Aston Villa and the did-that-actually-just-happen quality of Jermain Defoe's winner for Sunderland against Newcastle United, and above all it was a gloriously subtle goal, instinct combining with a clear thought-process to devastating effect.

The Guardian - Sport

The most dramatic match of the day came when Luton's catastrophic run of form went on in devastating fashion against Exeter.

The Guardian - Sport

The epidemic drained the health system of resources to deal with other medical issues, which can be devastating to people living on the economic edge.

The Guardian

Deployed out wide by the club's then manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, Cerci could be devastating at times – using his pace and technique to blow past defenders as if they were never there – but on too many other occasions, he was anonymous.

The Guardian - Sport

Labor and the Greens said the announcements could not distract from the government's "devastating" cuts to previously budgeted overseas development assistance.

The Guardian

"To have my face connected with an act of terrorism on the front pages of major Australian newspapers, and all over the internet, was devastating for me and my family," Alam said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devastating" to describe events or situations that cause significant damage, emotional distress, or destruction. Ensure the context clearly illustrates the severity of the impact.

Common error

Avoid using "devastating" for minor inconveniences or slightly negative situations. Reserve it for genuinely catastrophic or severely impactful events to maintain its intended force.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "devastating" functions primarily to qualify a noun, emphasizing the severe and destructive nature of something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in describing situations with significant negative impact, as shown in its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "devastating" is a powerful term used to describe situations causing significant damage, destruction, or emotional distress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness across various contexts. It's particularly prevalent in news and media, as well as formal business settings. When using "devastating", ensure the context reflects the gravity of the situation to avoid overuse in milder scenarios. Consider alternatives like "catastrophic" or "ruinous" to fine-tune the intended meaning. Overall, "devastating" remains a valuable adjective for accurately portraying significant negative impacts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catastrophic

This alternative emphasizes the sudden and widespread nature of the damage.

ruinous

This alternative highlights the destructive financial or material consequences.

disastrous

This alternative focuses on the unfortunate and negative outcome.

crushing

This alternative emphasizes the overwhelming and disheartening effect.

destructive

This alternative broadly describes the act of causing damage.

calamitous

This alternative suggests a severe and unfortunate event or disaster.

crippling

This alternative emphasizes the disabling and weakening effect.

tragic

This alternative underscores the sorrowful and lamentable nature of the event.

dire

This alternative highlights the extreme seriousness and urgency of the situation.

wreaking havoc

This alternative emphasizes the chaos and disorder caused.

FAQs

How can I use "devastating" in a sentence?

"Devastating" is an adjective used to describe something that causes great damage or suffering. For example, "The hurricane had a devastating impact on coastal communities."

What words are similar to "devastating"?

Synonyms for "devastating" include "catastrophic", "ruinous", and "disastrous".

When is it appropriate to use "devastating" instead of "bad"?

Use "devastating" when the situation involves significant damage, destruction, or emotional impact, whereas "bad" is suitable for minor inconveniences. For example, a natural disaster is "devastating", but a cancelled meeting is just "bad".

Is it okay to use "devastating" in formal writing?

Yes, "devastating" is appropriate for formal writing when describing situations that warrant such strong language. Ensure the context aligns with the severity implied by "devastating".