Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb devastate

2 senses of devastate

Sense 1
lay waste to, waste, devastate, desolate, ravage, scourge -- (cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion")
       => destroy, ruin -- (destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up")

Sense 2
devastate -- (overwhelm or overpower; "He was devastated by his grief when his son died")
       => overwhelm, overpower, sweep over, whelm, overcome, overtake -- (overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli)