Devastated describes feeling extremely shocked, sad, or emotionally destroyed by something bad that has happened. It can also describe places that have been badly damaged or ruined.
From Latin "devastare" meaning "to lay waste," combining "de-" and "vastare" (to make empty or waste). It originally referred to physical destruction, then extended to emotional ruin.
When you say you’re devastated, you’re comparing your inner world to a landscape that’s been wiped out. That’s why even short sentences like "I was devastated" carry such heavy emotional weight.
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