How to say "devastation" in Japanese

• 壊滅かいめつCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbDevastation as complete destruction or annihilation: a city, army, or organization wiped out, with nothing left standing or functioning. It presents the destruction itself as total, rather than the ruined condition left behind.
  壊滅かいめつそのものが豊ゆたかな生命せいめいを生うむ。↗

  Mere decay produces richer life.
• 荒廃こうはいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbDevastation as a state of ruin and desolation: a land, town, or society left wasted and run-down. It names the devastated condition itself, however it came about.
  その国くには戦争せんそうで荒廃こうはいしてしまった。↗

  The country was wasted by war.

Use 壊滅 for devastation as complete destruction or annihilation — something wiped out; use 荒廃 for devastation as a state of ruin and desolation, a place or society left wasted.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 壊滅かいめつ(complete) destruction
• 荒廃こうはいruin