WordWeb Online

1. Sharply critical or damaging
   "a devastating portrait of human folly";
   - annihilating, withering
    
2. Wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
   "a devastating hurricane";
   - annihilative, annihilating, apocalyptic
    
3. Physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
   "a devastating blow";
   - crushing

1. Cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
   "The enemy devastate the countryside after the invasion";
   - lay waste to, waste, desolate, ravage, scourge, lay waste
    
2. Overwhelm or overpower
   "He was devastated by his grief when his son died"

See also: destructive, disrespectful

Type of: destroy, overcome, overpower, overtake, overwhelm, ruin, spifflicate, spiflicate, sweep over, whelm [archaic]