devastating
gb/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/ us/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
B2
Inglês
~ 6800
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
causing great damage or destruction
Causing very big damage or harm, often to many people or a large area.
Padrão de uso:
to be devastating for/to [something]
Erro comum:
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.
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.)
Colocações
devastating earthquake
|devastating flood
|devastating effect
|devastating impact
|devastating consequences
|devastating blow
Temas
disasters
|environment
|society
|nature
Exemplos
- The wildfire was absolutely devastating, destroying entire neighborhoods in a single night.
- Scientists warned that a rise in sea levels would have devastating effects on coastal cities.
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The storm was devastating and many houses were lost.
- The war had a devastating effect on the city.
- 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.
adjective
B2
property
2
causing deep sadness or shock
Making a person feel very, very sad or shocked.
Padrão de uso:
to be devastating for [someone]
Erro comum:
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.
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.)
Colocações
devastating news
|devastating diagnosis
|devastating loss
|devastating phone call
|devastating experience
Temas
emotions
|health
|daily life
Exemplos
- The sudden death of her father was devastating for the whole family.
- Getting the call that he had lost his job was devastating news.
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The bad news was devastating for her.
- The test result was devastating, and he cried.
- It was devastating when their dog died.
- The divorce was devastating for the children.
- Her words were devastating to him.
adjective
C1
property
3
extremely effective or powerful
Very strong or effective in a way that hurts or defeats someone or something.
Padrão de uso:
devastating [argument/attack/critique]
Erro comum:
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.
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.)
Colocações
devastating argument
|devastating critique
|devastating attack
|devastating punch
|devastating performance
Temas
communication
|sports
|conflict
|work
Exemplos
- She delivered a devastating argument that completely changed the jury’s mind.
- The boxer landed a devastating punch that ended the fight in the first round.
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Her speech was a devastating attack on corruption.
- He made a devastating argument, and nobody could answer.
- 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.
adjective
informal
C1
property
4
extremely attractive or impressive
Very, very good-looking or visually amazing.
Padrão de uso:
a devastating [smile/look/outfit]
Erro comum:
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*).
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.)
Colocações
devastatingly beautiful
|devastating smile
|devastating good looks
|devastating charm
Temas
appearance
|relationships
Exemplos
- She walked into the room in a devastating red dress.
- He flashed a devastating smile that made everyone relax.
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- She has a devastating smile.
- He is a devastatingly beautiful man.
- The model wore a devastating dress on the runway.
- The view from the mountain was devastatingly beautiful.
- Many people loved his devastating good looks.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
devastating
IPA
GB/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
US/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ/
Sílabas e acento
dev - ast - at - ing (4 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (dev)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: devastating
- Comparative: devastatinger
- Superlative: devastatingest
Família de palavras
Forms
devastatinger
adjective
devastatingest
adjective
Core family
Related words
devastator
noun
Expressões
devastating attack
1/dˈɛvɪstˌeɪtɪŋ ətˈæk/
fixed phrase
very powerful damaging attack
An attack that causes very big damage, physically or with words.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.