present participle of devastate
"The devastating storm left the entire coastal town in ruins."
In plain English: To devastate means to destroy something completely so that nothing useful is left behind.
"The storm devastated our entire neighborhood, leaving trees uprooted and houses destroyed."
making light of
"afire with annihilating invective"
"a devastating portrait of human folly"
"to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
"possessing annihilative power"
"a devastating hurricane"
"the guns opened a withering fire"
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
"a crushing blow"
"a crushing rejection"
"bone-crushing"
causing devastation
"The hurricane left a devastating trail of destruction across the coastline, wiping out entire neighborhoods."