Is devastated stronger than sad?

Yes. Devastated is much stronger and shows deep emotional pain.

Can I say devastated for things, not people?

Yes. It can describe serious damage to places, buildings, or plans.

Is devastated formal or informal?

It works in both. It is common in speech, news, and writing.

What's the difference between devastated and disappointed?

Disappointed means something was not as hoped. Devastated means the feeling is far stronger.

← Dictionary

devastated

/ˈdev.ə.steɪ.tɪd/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

1.
Very upset, shocked, or emotionally hurt. It often means the feeling is very strong and difficult to recover from quickly.
- She was devastated by the bad news.
- He felt devastated after the breakup.
- I was devastated when my team lost.
2.
Completely damaged or destroyed. This use is common for places, buildings, plans, or systems.
- The flood devastated the village.
- The fire devastated the old house.
- The storm devastated the coastline.

Adinary Nuance

Devastated is stronger than upset, sad, or disappointed. It suggests deep emotional pain, or very serious damage in the physical sense. Writers choose it when ordinary words do not feel strong enough.

In other languages

Vietnamese: suy sụp
Spanish: devastado
Chinese: 极度难过
Japanese: 打ちのめされた
Korean: 큰 충격을 받은

Etymology

It comes from Latin devastare, meaning 'to lay waste'. It entered English through French and has been used since the 1500s.

Common phrases

devastated by newsdevastated by the losscompletely devastateddevastated at the result

Synonyms

heartbroken crushed shattered destroyed wrecked

Frequently asked questions

Is devastated stronger than sad?: Yes. Devastated is much stronger and shows deep emotional pain.
Can I say devastated for things, not people?: Yes. It can describe serious damage to places, buildings, or plans.
Is devastated formal or informal?: It works in both. It is common in speech, news, and writing.
What's the difference between devastated and disappointed?: Disappointed means something was not as hoped. Devastated means the feeling is far stronger.