German Conversation · Level 118
45 words
German word
verheerend
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈheːʁənt/
Meaning
- adjectivedevastating
Example
Das Erdbeben war verheerend.
The earthquake was devastating.
More examples
Die Hitzeperioden erwiesen sich als verheerend für die Landwirtschaft.
The heatwaves proved devastating for agriculture.
Core concept
A disaster leaves a wide landscape of collapsed buildings and broken infrastructure, with little still intact.
Common phrases
verheerende Folgen
devastating consequences
verheerendes Ausmaß
devastating scale
verheerend für die Infrastruktur
devastating for infrastructure
Similar words
katastrophal: Causing extensive damage through a severe disaster or event.
vernichtend: Destroying something completely, leaving nothing usable or intact.
fatal: Causing death or another extremely serious harmful result.
Definition in German
so stark zerstörend, dass kaum etwas intakt bleibt
Word origin
Verheerend is the present participle of German verheeren, a verb meaning to lay waste or leave extensive destruction.
Usage tips
- Verheerend is a strong, formal-sounding word that usually describes serious damage or its consequences rather than minor problems.