devastazione

devastation

noun deh-vahs-tah-TSYOH-neh Rare

Origin: From Latin devastatio, from devastare (to lay waste).

Also means

destruction

Usage Note

Devastazione conveys both physical destruction (after a natural disaster or war) and figurative ruin (emotional devastation). The plural devastazioni is common when referring to the aftermath of multiple events. The related verb is devastare and the adjective devastante (devastating).

Examples

"Il terremoto ha causato una devastazione enorme."

Natural Translation

The earthquake caused enormous devastation.

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