devastating

/ˌdɛvəˈsteɪdɪŋ/

/ˈdɛvəsteɪtɪŋ/

Other forms: devastatingly

Something that's shocking and distressing is devastating. Watching the local ice cream shop burn to the ground would be devastating to many neighborhood kids.

Incredibly destructive events like earthquakes are devastating, although anything that's tragic, even on a personal level, can also be devastating. It's also used informally to mean incredibly affecting or impressive, like a photographer's devastating images of urban poverty. This meaning came into use in the late 1800s — before that, devastating came right from the Latin word devastare, "to lay waste completely."

Definitions of devastating

1. adjective

   wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
   “a devastating hurricane”

   synonyms: annihilating, annihilative, withering

   destructive

   causing destruction or much damage
2. adjective

   physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
   synonyms: crushing

   destructive

   causing destruction or much damage
3. adjective

   making light of
   “a devastating portrait of human folly”

   synonyms: annihilating, withering

   disrespectful

   exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous