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)

Antonyms of adj devastating

3 senses of devastating

Sense 1
annihilating, devastating, withering -- (making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert)

INDIRECT (VIA disrespectful) -> respectful -- (full of or exhibiting respect; "respectful behavior"; "a respectful glance")

Sense 2
annihilative, annihilating, devastating, withering -- (wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire")

INDIRECT (VIA destructive) -> constructive -- (constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development; "constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission")

Sense 3
crushing, devastating -- (physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination; "a crushing blow"; "a crushing rejection"; "bone-crushing")

INDIRECT (VIA destructive) -> constructive -- (constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development; "constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission")

Similarity of adj devastating

3 senses of devastating

Sense 1
annihilating, devastating, withering -- (making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert)
       => disrespectful (vs. respectful) -- (exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous; "remarks disrespectful of the law"; "disrespectful in the presence of his parents"; "disrespectful toward his teacher")

Sense 2
annihilative, annihilating, devastating, withering -- (wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire")
       => destructive (vs. constructive) -- (causing destruction or much damage; "a policy that is destructive to the economy"; "destructive criticism")

Sense 3
crushing, devastating -- (physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination; "a crushing blow"; "a crushing rejection"; "bone-crushing")
       => destructive (vs. constructive) -- (causing destruction or much damage; "a policy that is destructive to the economy"; "destructive criticism")