devastating

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was this initial blaze -- which firefighters believed they had extinguished -- that subsequently reignited on January 7, devastating the neighborhood and parts of the city of Malibu, prosecutors say.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Allowed to innovate, to make battlefield adjustments, and to resist the urge to abandon strong defensive positions, they have imposed devastating casualties on the Russians, who are seriously wanting in tactical agility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

“The Eaton fire had massive, devastating effects, not too far away from the cougar’s natural habitat, so it’s very possible they’re here looking for food, water and shelter,” he told the station.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The devastating Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 remains a powerful reminder of the impact offshore oil spills can have.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

For example, the megafauna of New Zealand—which had weathered the alleged ‘climate change’ of c. 45,000 years ago without a scratch—suffered devastating blows immediately after the first humans set foot on the islands.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari