The word “devastating” implies extremely destructive, causing great harm or damage. A less severe synonym for “devastating” could be “damaging”.
“Damaging” suggests that something causes harm or impairment, but not to the extreme extent of being devastating. For example, a natural disaster might be described as “devastating” if it completely destroys a large area and causes significant loss of life and property. However, a smaller-scale event that still has negative consequences might be called “damaging”.
Another possible synonym is “harmful”. This word indicates that something is capable of causing injury or detriment. While it is not as intense as “devastating”, it still implies a negative impact. For instance, a bad habit might be “harmful” to one’s health over time, but it wouldn’t be described as “devastating” unless it led to a major health crisis.
“Undesirable” is also a less severe alternative. It means not wanted or not pleasing. While it doesn’t carry the same level of destruction as “devastating”, it can describe a situation or outcome that is not favorable. For example, a policy decision might have “undesirable” consequences without being completely devastating.
In conclusion, words like “damaging”, “harmful”, and “undesirable” offer less severe alternatives to “devastating” while still conveying a sense of negative impact. The choice of synonym depends on the context and the degree of severity one wishes to express.