devastující

Devastující is a Czech adjective meaning causing or resulting in great damage, ruin, or destruction. It is used to describe events, phenomena, or consequences that are extremely damaging or overwhelming, and can refer to physical destruction as well as figurative impact. Common collocations include devastující škody, devastující následky, devastující zprávy and podobně.

The word is derived from the verb devastovat (to devastate) and the related noun devastace (devastation). Its ultimate origin lies in Latin devastare, “to lay waste.” In Czech, devastující functions as a present participle adjective and agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, though the base form remains the same in many contexts.

In usage, devastující carries a strong evaluative tone and is typically found in journalism, academic writing, and formal discourse where a high level of severity is being described. It can describe physical catastrophes such as fires or floods, as well as social, economic, or emotional impacts, including devastating news, devastating losses, or devastating implications. While it shares synonyms with words like katastrofální, ničivý, or zničující, devastující emphasizes a sense of comprehensive, ruinous effect.

See also: devastation, devastace, devastovat. Although widely understood in Czech, the term is most appropriate when the subject matter involves substantial, wide-ranging damage rather than milder consequences.