Visual meaning of 'devastate'? - learn with images, example in daily life

Visual illustration of devastate: To ruin many or all things over a large area, such as most or all buildings of a city, or cities of a region, or trees of a forest.

verb

To ruin many or all things over a large area, such as most or all buildings of a city, or cities of a region, or trees of a forest.

"The earthquake devastated the coastal towns, leaving them in ruins. "

disaster environment area building war

Visual illustration of devastate: To destroy a whole collection of related ideas, beliefs, and strongly held opinions.

verb

To destroy a whole collection of related ideas, beliefs, and strongly held opinions.

"The new scientific findings devastated the traditional understanding of how the human brain works. "

mind philosophy emotion suffering

Visual illustration of devastate: To break beyond recovery or repair so that the only options are abandonment or the clearing away of useless remains (if any) and starting over. - Image 1

devastate: To break beyond recovery or repair so that the only options are abandonment or the clearing away of useless remains (if any) and starting over. - Thumbnail 1

devastate: To break beyond recovery or repair so that the only options are abandonment or the clearing away of useless remains (if any) and starting over. - Thumbnail 2

verb

To break beyond recovery or repair so that the only options are abandonment or the clearing away of useless remains (if any) and starting over.

"The hurricane devastated the small coastal town, leaving almost every building in ruins. "

disaster environment outcome action condition suffering event