devastating
devastating — adjective
1. causing very serious harm or complete ruin to buildings, land, or other physical
causing very serious harm or complete ruin to buildings, land, or other physical things — used especially for natural disasters, fires, storms, and wars that leave places in a badly damaged condition.
The earthquake caused devastating damage to buildings across the old part of the city.
collocation: devastating damage / devastating impact
A wildfire swept through the hills, destroying homes and leaving a devastating scar.
Farmers across the region said the drought had a devastating effect on their harvest.
The hurricane's winds tore roofs off houses and left a path of devastating ruin.
- destructive
Broader — destructive can describe anything that causes harm, not necessarily on a large scale; devastating implies total or near-total ruin.
- catastrophic
Stronger focus on widespread disaster affecting many people; devastating can describe harm on a smaller scale too.
- ruinous
Suggests financial or structural collapse; more formal than devastating.
- constructive
Describes something that builds or helps rather than destroys.
文法句型
devastating + noun
be + devastating
用法筆記
Often used with nouns like damage, effect, impact, loss, blow, or consequence to describe the scale of physical harm.
常見錯誤
2. producing such intense shock or deep sadness that a person feels emotionally ove
producing such intense shock or deep sadness that a person feels emotionally overwhelmed — used when news, events, or experiences hit someone very hard and leave them deeply upset or heartbroken.
Sivan received the devastating news that her cousin had been in a serious car accident.
collocation: devastating news
It was devastating for the family to learn that their savings had disappeared overnight.
it + be + devastating + for [person] + to-infinitive
The doctor's diagnosis was devastating, and Jiwoo struggled to hold back her tears.
Tamar found it devastating to watch her childhood school get torn down and replaced.
- heartbreaking
More personal and emotional; devastating is broader and can also describe physical destruction.
- shattering
Stronger metaphor of breaking apart; less common in everyday speech than devastating.
- crushing
Suggests the weight of the emotional blow; similar intensity to devastating.
- uplifting
Makes someone feel happier and more hopeful.
文法句型
be + devastating + for + someone
find + it + devastating + to-infinitive
it + be + devastating + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Common in patterns with news, diagnosis, discovery, blow, or reality as the subject. The to-infinitive pattern (e.g. 'it was devastating to learn…') is very frequent and natural for learners to imitate.
常見錯誤
3. referring to a personal quality — such as charm, wit, or good looks — that is so
referring to a personal quality — such as charm, wit, or good looks — that is so striking it grabs people's full attention or leaves them unable to respond.
Élise gave a devastating smile that made everyone in the meeting stop and stare.
Lucas has a devastating wit that leaves his opponents unable to reply during debates.
collocation: devastating wit
Zayd's devastating charm won over the hiring committee during the interview.
The speaker's devastating mix of humour and honesty kept the audience completely silent.
- stunning
More common for physical beauty; less strong in effect than devastating.
- irresistible
Focuses on the inability to resist, while devastating focuses on the powerful impact.
- dazzling
Suggests brightness or showiness; devastating has a more forceful, overwhelming quality.
- unremarkable
Not standing out or attracting attention.
文法句型
devastating + noun (personal quality)
用法筆記
Almost always used attributively (before nouns like smile, charm, wit, looks, intelligence). It describes a quality that is so striking it metaphorically 'knocks people over' with its force. Not used predicatively in this sense — you cannot say 'her smile is devastating' in this positive-charm meaning without sounding ambiguous with sense 2.