German Conversation · Level 70
60 words
German word
verwüsten
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈvyːstn̩/
Meaning
- verbdevastate
Example
Der Sturm hat das ganze Dorf verwüstet.
The storm devastated the whole village.
More examples
Der Tornado hat innerhalb von Minuten die Felder verwüstet.
The tornado devastated the fields within minutes.
Core concept
A once usable landscape left as a barren, wrecked place where people can no longer live or work.
Common phrases
die Felder verwüsten
devastate the fields
ein militärisches Lager verwüsten
devastate a military camp
weiträumig verwüsten
devastate over a wide area
Similar words
zerstören: To destroy a building or object until its original form or function disappears.
beschädigen: To damage something without fully destroying it, impairing its appearance or function.
ruinieren: To ruin property or a reputation so badly that recovery is unlikely.
vernichten: To destroy something so completely that nothing remains.
Definition in German
Land oder Orte so stark schädigen oder zerstören, dass menschliche Nutzung nicht mehr möglich ist.
Word origin
Verwüsten developed from Middle High German wüesten, 'to turn into wasteland', and is related to wüst and Wüste.
Usage tips
- Verwüsten is much stronger than beschädigen and usually describes extensive destruction of land, settlements, or regions.