English Lexicon

Devastating Blow

/ˈdɛvəsteɪtɪŋ bloʊ/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A severe or overwhelming impact, often used metaphorically to describe a significant setback or loss.

    "The news of the company's bankruptcy was a devastating blow to the employees."
  2. 2

    A physical strike or hit that causes significant damage or injury.

    "The boxer delivered a devastating blow that knocked his opponent out."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'devastating' originates from the Latin 'devastare', meaning to lay waste, which evolved through Old French into Middle English. 'Blow' comes from Old English 'blāwan', meaning to strike or hit, reflecting a physical impact that has metaphorical extensions in emotional and situational contexts.

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10 Global Lexicons: How "Devastating Blow" is said worldwide

Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration

🇫🇷French → English

coup dévastateur

Transliteration: koo day-vah-sta-teur

"La nouvelle de la faillite de l'entreprise a été un coup dévastateur pour les employés."

🇩🇪German → English

verheerender Schlag

Transliteration: fer-he-ren-der shlahg

"Die Nachricht von der Insolvenz war ein verheerender Schlag für die Mitarbeiter."

🇮🇹Italian → English

colpo devastante

Transliteration: kol-po de-va-stan-te

"La notizia del fallimento è stata un colpo devastante per i dipendenti."

🇪🇸Spanish → English

golpe devastador

Transliteration: gol-pe de-va-sta-dor

"La noticia de la quiebra fue un golpe devastador para los empleados."

🇵🇹Portuguese → English

golpe devastador

Transliteration: gol-pe de-va-sta-dor

"A notícia da falência foi um golpe devastador para os funcionários."

🇮🇳Hindi → English

विनाशकारी प्रहार

Transliteration: vinaashkaari prahaar

"कंपनी की दिवालियापन की खबर कर्मचारियों के लिए विनाशकारी प्रहार थी।"

🇨🇳Chinese → English

毁灭性打击

Transliteration: huǐmièxìng dǎjī

"公司的破产消息对员工来说是毁灭性打击。"

🇰🇷Korean → English

파괴적인 타격

Transliteration: pagoejeogin tagyeok

"회사의 파산 소식은 직원들에게 파괴적인 타격이었다."

🇯🇵Japanese → English

壊滅的打撃

Transliteration: kaimetsuteki dageki

"会社の破産のニュースは従業員にとって壊滅的打撃だった。"

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