General usage:
* The news of her father's death devastated her.
* The earthquake devastated the city, leaving thousands homeless.
* The fire devastated the entire forest, leaving behind only ash and charred trees.
Figurative language:
* His cruel words devastated her self-esteem.
* The loss of her job devastated her financially.
* The team's loss devastated their hopes of winning the championship.
Emphasis:
* The hurricane utterly devastated the coastal towns.
* The news completely devastated her family.
* The fire almost completely devastated the building.
Formal writing:
* The bombing devastated the city's infrastructure.
* The economic crisis devastated the country's economy.
* The war devastated the region, leaving it in ruins.
Informal writing:
* I was devastated when I lost my phone.
* The breakup devastated her.
* He was devastated by the news of his friend's accident.
Remember that "devastate" implies a significant and destructive impact. Choose the sentence that best fits the context of your writing.