'Devastating' definitions:

Definition of 'devastating'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert [syn: annihilating, devastating, withering]
adjective
Wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire" [syn: annihilative, annihilating, devastating, withering]
adjective
Physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination; "a crushing blow"; "a crushing rejection"; "bone-crushing" [syn: crushing, devastating]

Definition of 'Devastating'

From: GCIDE
  • Devastate \Dev"as*tate\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n. Devastating.] [L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate; de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.] To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate. [1913 Webster]
  • Whole countries . . . were devastated. --Macaulay.
  • Syn: To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'devastating'

From: GCIDE
  • devastating \devastating\ adj.
  • 1. highly critical; making light of; as, a devastating portrait of human folly.
  • Syn: annihilating, withering. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 2. causing or capable of causing complete destruction; as, a devastating hurricane.
  • Syn: annihilative. [WordNet 1.5]