devastate
intermediateB2/ˈdevəsteɪt/ · dev-as-tate
To cause severe and overwhelming destruction or damage to a place, area, or thing; to ruin completely.
Meanings
To cause severe and overwhelming destruction or damage to a place, area, or thing; to ruin completely.
کسی جگہ یا چیز کو مکمل طور پر تباہ و برباد کر دینا؛ بالکل ویران کر ڈالنا۔
تباہ کرنا
tabaah karna
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
- devastate a city
- devastate the economy
- devastate the region
- devastate crops
- storm devastated
- earthquake devastated
- war-devastated country
Example Sentences
The earthquake devastated the entire coastal region, leaving thousands homeless.
زلزلے نے پورے ساحلی علاقے کو تباہ کر دیا اور ہزاروں لوگوں کو بے گھر چھوڑ دیا۔
Zalzalay ne pooray saahili ilaaqa ko tabaah kar diya aur hazaaron logon ko be ghar chhod diya.
The floods devastated farmlands and destroyed the crops of countless farmers.
سیلاب نے کھیتوں کو تباہ کر دیا اور ان گنت کسانوں کی فصلیں برباد کر دیں۔
Selaab ne kheton ko tabaah kar diya aur an ginat kisaanon ki faslen barbaad kar deen.
The fire devastated the ancient library, destroying centuries of irreplaceable manuscripts.
آگ نے قدیم کتب خانے کو تباہ کر دیا اور صدیوں پرانے نادر مخطوطات جلا ڈالے۔
Aag ne qadeem kutub khaana ko tabaah kar diya aur sadiyon puraane naadir makhtootat jala daale.
The new policy devastated small businesses across the country.
نئی پالیسی نے پورے ملک میں چھوٹے کاروباروں کو تباہ کر دیا۔
Nayi policy ne pooray mulk mein chhotay kaarobaaron ko tabaah kar diya.
Easily Confused With
To overwhelm someone emotionally; to cause extreme shock, grief, or distress to a person.
کسی کو جذباتی طور پر توڑ دینا؛ کسی کو انتہائی صدمے، غم یا تکلیف میں مبتلا کر دینا۔
دل توڑنا
dil todna
Synonyms
Common Collocations
- devastated by the news
- absolutely devastated
- emotionally devastated
- devastated by the loss
- leave someone devastated
- feel devastated
Example Sentences
She was completely devastated when she heard the news of her father's passing.
جب اسے اپنے والد کی وفات کی خبر ملی تو وہ مکمل طور پر ٹوٹ گئی۔
Jab usay apne waalid ki wafaat ki khabar mili to woh mukamal taur par toot gayi.
The unexpected rejection devastated him and he couldn't speak for hours.
غیر متوقع رد کیے جانے نے اسے توڑ کر رکھ دیا اور وہ گھنٹوں بول نہ سکا۔
Ghair mutawaqqa radd kiye jaane ne usay tod kar rakh diya aur woh ghanton bol na saka.
The team was devastated by their loss in the final match.
ٹیم آخری میچ میں شکست سے بری طرح ٹوٹ گئی۔
Team aakhiri match mein shikast se buri tarah toot gayi.
His cruel words devastated her self-confidence completely.
اس کے ظالمانہ الفاظ نے اس کا خود اعتمادی بالکل ختم کر دی۔
Us ke zaalimaana alfaaz ne us ka khud aitemaadi bilkul khatam kar di.
Easily Confused With
Word Family
See Also
💡 Memory Tip
Break 'devastate' into 'DEV-AS-TATE': think of a 'DEVil AS he TATE-rs (shatters)' everything in his path — nothing is left standing. The 'vast' in the middle also echoes 'vastness of emptiness' left behind.
Picture a once-thriving city reduced to smoldering rubble after a terrible storm — empty streets, crumbled buildings, and ash everywhere. That complete, overwhelming emptiness is what 'devastate' looks like.
✍️ Urdu Poetry
اجاڑ دیتی ہے طوفاں کی ایک ہی لہر سب کو جو آبادی تھی دلوں میں وہ ویران ہو گئی
Ujaad deti hai toofaan ki ek hi lehar sab ko Jo aabaadi thi dilon mein woh veeran ho gayi
A single wave of the storm lays waste to everything — The life that once thrived within hearts has become a desolation.
— Unknown, Unverified
* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.
🗣️ Urdu Proverb
آندھی کے آگے چراغ کہاں ٹھہرتا ہے
Aandhi ke aagay charaagh kahaan thahrta hai
Where can a lamp stand before the storm? — meaning overwhelming force devastates even the most resilient things.
📖 Etymology
Origin: Latin "devastare" — to lay waste, to ravage completely
First known use: 1630s
From Latin 'devastare', composed of 'de-' (completely, thoroughly) and 'vastare' (to lay waste), from 'vastus' (waste, empty, desolate). Entered English in the early 17th century, initially in its noun/adjective form 'devastation', and later as the verb 'devastate'. The word carried both literal meanings of physical destruction and emotional ruin.