it devastated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it devastated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or event that caused significant emotional or physical damage or distress. Example: "The news of the disaster hit the community hard; it devastated everyone who had lost loved ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was one of Wall Street's worst accounting scandals, and it devastated the high-flying company, sending its stock from a high near $42 to below $7.

Forbes

In January 2010 another powerful earthquake, of magnitude 7.0, struck; its epicentre was southwest of the city, and it devastated Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While Felix lost strength, many Hondurans recalled that Mitch had dropped its hurricane status and was a tropical storm when it devastated their country.

The New York Times

"It devastated my parents.

The New York Times

It devastated his father.

The New York Times - Magazine

It devastated me.

Independent

It devastated my wife.

The New York Times - Sports

It was very unsuccessful - it devastated me!

The Guardian - Sport

This book... it devastated me, destroyed me.

The Guardian

"Inevitably, when I left my job, it devastated me.

The New York Times

"When they changed their mind, it devastated our business".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it devastated" to convey a strong sense of destruction, emotional distress, or overwhelming negative impact. Ensure the subject "it" is clearly defined in the context.

Common error

Avoid using "it devastated" when describing minor inconveniences or setbacks. The phrase carries a strong connotation of severe damage and is inappropriate for less significant situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it devastated" functions as a declarative statement expressing that something caused overwhelming destruction or distress. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The subject "it" refers to a previously mentioned entity, and "devastated" acts as the main verb, conveying the magnitude of the impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it devastated" is a powerful way to express significant destruction or distress. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and widely used. The phrase functions to communicate the severity and scope of a negative impact, whether physical, emotional, or economic. While versatile, it's important to reserve its use for situations where the consequences are truly substantial, avoiding overuse in milder contexts. Given its frequent appearance in news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources, its register is considered neutral, but it's key to choose the correct register depending on the situation to get the correct message across.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it caused immense damage

Replaces the verb with a more descriptive phrase focusing on the extent of the damage.

it had a catastrophic impact

Emphasizes the disastrous nature of the event's consequences.

it wrought havoc

Uses a more figurative and evocative expression to describe the destructive effect.

it inflicted heavy losses

Focuses on the losses incurred as a result of the event.

it left a trail of destruction

Highlights the widespread and lasting impact of the destructive event.

it ruined everything

Simple phrasing implying complete destruction or failure.

it shattered all hopes

Focuses on the emotional impact of a devastating event.

it crippled the industry

Specific to economic impact, suggesting severe damage to an industry.

it brought ruin

A more formal and literary way to express devastation.

it leveled the city

Emphasizes the physical destruction of a place.

FAQs

How can I use "it devastated" in a sentence?

Use "it devastated" to describe something that caused significant emotional or physical damage. For example, "The news of the company's failure "it devastated" the employees."

What are some alternatives to "it devastated"?

You can use alternatives such as "it destroyed", "it shattered", or "it ruined", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "it devastated" in formal writing?

Yes, ""it devastated"" is appropriate for formal writing when describing a serious event with significant negative consequences. Consider the intensity of the situation when choosing your words.

What's the difference between "it damaged" and "it devastated"?

"It damaged" implies harm or impairment, while ""it devastated"" suggests a much more severe and overwhelming level of destruction or distress.