devastada

Devastada is the feminine singular form of the past participle of the Spanish verb devastar, and it functions as an adjective. It is used to describe something that has been laid waste, severely damaged, or utterly ruined. The term commonly applies to physical environments such as cities, landscapes, or buildings after a catastrophe, but it can also describe emotional states when referring to a female subject, as in someone being deeply affected by tragic news.

Etymology and related forms: devastar comes from Latin devastare, meaning to lay waste. Related nouns include devastación (devastation) and verbs such as devastar. The masculine counterpart is devastado, and plural forms are devastados (masculine or mixed) and devastadas (feminine).

Usage notes: Devastada agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, “La ciudad quedó devastada tras el huracán” describes a female noun in a passive result, while “Ella estaba devastada por la noticia” uses devastada to describe a female person’s emotional state. In neutral or masculine contexts, one would say “el paisaje está devastado” or “el lugar quedó devastado.”

Synonyms and related terms include arrasado, destruido, and arruinado, while the antonyms would be intacto or prístino to indicate no damage. The word appears in news reports, literary descriptions, and everyday language when conveying ruin, damage, or emotional impact.