devastating
gb/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/ us/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
B2
Inglés
~ 6800
pusztító, katasztrofális, lesújtó, megrendítő, megsemmisítő, pusztító erejű, lehengerlő, ellenállhatatlan, lélegzetelállító
B2
1
pusztító
B2
Patrón de uso:
to be devastating for/to [something]
The wildfire was absolutely devastating, destroying entire neighborhoods in a single night.
Az erdőtűz elképesztően pusztító volt: egyetlen éjszaka alatt egész lakónegyedeket semmisített meg.
Scientists warned that a rise in sea levels would have devastating effects on coastal cities.
A tudósok arra figyelmeztettek, hogy a tengerszint emelkedése pusztító hatással lenne a part menti városokra.
The explosion had a devastating impact on the surrounding area, shattering windows for miles.
Years of drought have had a devastating effect on local agriculture.
The company suffered a devastating blow when its main factory burned down.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The storm was devastating and many houses were lost.
A vihar pusztító volt, és sok ház megsemmisült.
The war had a devastating effect on the city.
A háború pusztító hatással volt a városra.
Cutting down the forest will be devastating for the animals.
The fire was devastating to the small town.
Pollution can have a devastating impact on the sea.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use *devastating* for minor problems (e.g., "devastating traffic" for a normal delay). In English, *devastating* is usually reserved for very serious damage or very strong negative effects.
Significado
causing great damage or destruction
Colocaciones
devastating earthquake
|devastating flood
|devastating effect
|devastating impact
|devastating consequences
|devastating blow
Sinónimos
destructive (Focuses on physical damage, slightly less intense in scale.)
|
ruinous (Stresses causing serious long-term harm, especially financial or structural.)
Antónimos
harmless (Describes something that does not cause damage or injury.)
|
beneficial (Emphasizes causing good or helpful results instead of damage.)
Temas
disasters
|environment
|society
|nature
Definición
Causing very big damage or harm, often to many people or a large area.
Causing extremely serious damage, destruction, or loss, often on a large scale.
B2
2
lesújtó
B2
megrendítő
B2
Patrón de uso:
to be devastating for [someone]
The sudden death of her father was devastating for the whole family.
Az édesapja hirtelen halála lesújtó volt az egész család számára.
Getting the call that he had lost his job was devastating news.
Lesújtó hír volt számára, amikor telefonon közölték vele, hogy elvesztette az állását.
The doctor’s words were devastating, and he needed time to process the diagnosis.
Losing the final match in the last minute was devastating for the team.
For many students, failing the exam after months of study was absolutely devastating.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The bad news was devastating for her.
A rossz hír lesújtó volt számára.
The test result was devastating, and he cried.
A teszt eredménye lesújtó volt, és sírva fakadt.
It was devastating when their dog died.
The divorce was devastating for the children.
Her words were devastating to him.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse *devastated* ("I was devastated") with *devastating* ("It was devastating news"). *Devastated* usually describes the person’s feeling, while *devastating* usually describes the thing that causes the feeling.
Significado
causing deep sadness or shock
Colocaciones
devastating news
|devastating diagnosis
|devastating loss
|devastating phone call
|devastating experience
Sinónimos
heartbreaking (Focuses on deep sadness and emotional pain, often more personal and intimate.)
|
crushing (Emphasizes the feeling of being emotionally pressed down or unable to cope.)
Antónimos
encouraging (Describes news or events that give hope instead of causing sadness.)
|
comforting (Suggests making someone feel calmer or less sad, the opposite emotional effect.)
Temas
emotions
|health
|daily life
Definición
Making a person feel very, very sad or shocked.
Causing someone to feel extremely sad, shocked, or emotionally crushed.
C1
3
megsemmisítő
C1
Patrón de uso:
devastating [argument/attack/critique]
She delivered a devastating argument that completely changed the jury’s mind.
Megsemmisítő erejű érvet hozott fel, amely teljesen megváltoztatta az esküdtek véleményét.
The boxer landed a devastating punch that ended the fight in the first round.
A bokszoló pusztító erejű ütést vitt be, amely már az első menetben véget vetett a mérkőzésnek.
His report was a devastating critique of the government’s policy.
The team’s devastating attack overwhelmed their opponents in the first half.
The scandal had a devastating impact on the politician’s career.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Her speech was a devastating attack on corruption.
A beszéde megsemmisítő erejű támadás volt a korrupció ellen.
He made a devastating argument, and nobody could answer.
Megsemmisítő erejű érvet hozott fel, és senki sem tudott válaszolni rá.
The player used a devastating kick to score.
The writer published a devastating review of the movie.
The new product had a devastating effect on its competitors.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think *devastating* can only describe physical damage. In this sense, it can describe non-physical things like an argument, a punch in sports, or a business result that strongly defeats the other side.
Significado
extremely effective or powerful
Colocaciones
devastating argument
|devastating critique
|devastating attack
|devastating punch
|devastating performance
Sinónimos
overwhelming (Emphasizes being much stronger than the other side, leaving no real resistance.)
|
crippling (Focuses on limiting or almost stopping the other side’s ability to respond.)
Antónimos
weak (Describes something that fails to have a strong effect.)
|
ineffective (Stresses not producing the desired result or impact.)
Temas
communication
|sports
|conflict
|work
Definición
Very strong or effective in a way that hurts or defeats someone or something.
Extremely effective, powerful, or successful in defeating, weakening, or seriously harming an opponent, argument, or position.
C1
INFORMAL
4
Patrón de uso:
a devastating [smile/look/outfit]
She walked into the room in a devastating red dress.
Egy lehengerlő piros ruhában lépett be a szobába.
He flashed a devastating smile that made everyone relax.
Lehengerlő mosolyt villantott, amitől mindenki felengedett.
The actor is known for his devastating good looks.
Her performance on stage was devastating, both vocally and visually.
With her devastating style, she quickly became a fashion icon.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
She has a devastating smile.
Lehengerlő mosolya van.
He is a devastatingly beautiful man.
Lélegzetelállítóan jóképű férfi.
The model wore a devastating dress on the runway.
The view from the mountain was devastatingly beautiful.
Many people loved his devastating good looks.
Error frecuente:
Learners may misunderstand this sense and think *devastating* is always negative. In informal English, it can be strongly positive when talking about beauty or style (e.g., *devastatingly beautiful*).
Significado
extremely attractive or impressive
Colocaciones
devastatingly beautiful
|devastating smile
|devastating good looks
|devastating charm
Sinónimos
stunning (Very close in meaning; focuses on beauty that surprises or impresses you.)
|
gorgeous (Strongly positive; common in everyday speech for very attractive people or things.)
Antónimos
plain (Describes someone or something without special beauty or striking features.)
|
unattractive (Directly states that someone or something is not good-looking.)
Temas
appearance
|relationships
Definición
Very, very good-looking or visually amazing.
Extremely attractive or impressive in appearance, especially in a way that strongly affects other people.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
devastating
AFI
GB/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
US/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
Sílabas y acento
dev - ast - at - ing (4 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (dev)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: devastating
- Comparative: devastatinger
- Superlative: devastatingest
Familia de palabras
Forms
devastatinger
adjective
devastatingest
adjective
Core family
Related words
devastator
noun
Expresiones
devastating attack
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ ətˈæk/
fixed phrase
very powerful damaging attack
An attack that causes very big damage, physically or with words.
Ejemplos
- The army launched a devastating attack at dawn.
- She faced a devastating attack on social media after her comments.
- The team made a devastating attack in the second half and scored three goals.
devastating blow
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ blˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
very serious setback or loss
A very bad event that suddenly hurts you a lot, in life, work, or feelings.
Ejemplos
- The factory closure was a devastating blow to the local economy.
- Her resignation came as a devastating blow to the project team.
- The injury was a devastating blow to his chances of playing in the final.
devastating consequences
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ kˈɑnsəkwˌɛnsɪz/
fixed phrase
extremely serious harmful results
Results that are very harmful and serious.
Ejemplos
- Ignoring climate change could have devastating consequences for future generations.
- The mistake led to devastating consequences for the company.
- Driving under the influence can have devastating consequences.
devastating critique
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ kɹɪtˈik/
fixed phrase
very strong negative review
A review or comment that is very, very negative and damaging.
Ejemplos
- The film received a devastating critique in the national newspaper.
- Her article is a devastating critique of the current education system.
- The book faced a devastating critique from literary scholars.
devastating diagnosis
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ dˌaɪəɡnˈoʊsɪs/
fixed phrase
extremely bad medical diagnosis
A medical result that is very bad and hard to accept.
Ejemplos
- The doctor’s words felt like a devastating diagnosis, even though she had expected bad news.
- Receiving a devastating diagnosis, he decided to change his lifestyle completely.
- For many patients, a cancer finding is a devastating diagnosis.
devastating effect
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
extremely strong negative effect
A result that harms something very strongly.
Ejemplos
- The new law had a devastating effect on small businesses.
- Long-term stress can have a devastating effect on your health.
- The drought is having a devastating effect on local farmers.
devastating impact
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ ˈɪmpækt/
fixed phrase
very strong harmful impact
A very strong harmful result or influence on something.
Ejemplos
- The scandal had a devastating impact on public trust.
- Climate change is already having a devastating impact on coastal communities.
- The war left a devastating impact on the country’s economy.
devastating loss
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ lˈɔs/
fixed phrase
extremely serious loss
A loss that hurts very much, in feelings or in what you have.
Ejemplos
- His death was a devastating loss to the music world.
- The team’s defeat was a devastating loss after such a strong season.
- For many families, the fire meant a devastating loss of their homes.
devastating news
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ njˈuz/
fixed phrase
extremely sad or shocking news
News that makes you feel very, very sad or shocked.
Ejemplos
- When she heard the devastating news, she broke down in tears.
- The test results were devastating news for the whole family.
- He called his parents to share the devastating news about the accident.
devastating punch
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ pˈʌnt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
extremely hard punch
A very strong hit with the fist that can quickly finish a fight.
Ejemplos
- He knocked out his opponent with a single devastating punch.
- The boxer is famous for his devastating punch power.
- One devastating punch in the final round changed the whole match.
devastating smile
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ smˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
extremely attractive smile
A very attractive smile that strongly affects other people.
Ejemplos
- He gave her a devastating smile as he walked past.
- With a devastating smile, the actor greeted his fans.
- She flashed a devastating smile that won everyone over.
devastatingly beautiful
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋli bjˈutɪfəl/
fixed phrase
informal
extremely, strikingly beautiful
Very, very beautiful; so beautiful that it strongly affects you.
Ejemplos
- The view from the top of the mountain was devastatingly beautiful.
- She is devastatingly beautiful and knows it.
- The city is devastatingly beautiful at night, with all the lights reflected on the river.