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]

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]