--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She gave the word devastated a whole new…" description: "\"“She gave the word devastated a whole new meaning. I truly believed, at that point, that the word devastated should be reserved for mothers. I no longe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/colleen-hoover-124_devastated_she-gave-the-word-devastated-a-whole-new_1483212.jpg" --- # She gave the word devastated a whole new meaning. I truly… ![“She gave the word devastated a whole new meaning. I truly believed, at that point, that the word devastated should be reserved for mothers. I no longer believe that. The word devastated should be reserved for brothers, too.” quote by Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/colleen-hoover-124_devastated_she-gave-the-word-devastated-a-whole-new_1483212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/colleen-hoover-124_devastated_she-gave-the-word-devastated-a-whole-new_1483212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/colleen-hoover-124_devastated_she-gave-the-word-devastated-a-whole-new_1483212.jpg) > ““She gave the word devastated a whole new meaning. I truly believed, at that point, that the word devastated should be reserved for mothers. I no longer believe that. The word devastated should be reserved for brothers, too.”” [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The word “devastated” expands from mothers to brothers, showing how personal loss reshapes language meaning. **In simple terms:** “Devastated” now includes brothers. Key Takeaway Recognize how experiences broaden language. Themes language loss growth Mood emotional thoughtful Type literary reflective When to use this quote - writing - therapy - relationship counseling Key Concepts semantic shift personal experience Questions to Reflect On - How does personal loss alter our vocabulary? - Can language evolve with shared trauma? A Different Perspective Words may lose specificity over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“Devastated should be reserved for mothers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/devastated-should-be-reserved-for-mothers/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [We want the world to focus on children whose lives have been devastated by AIDS. The millions of children who are missing their parents;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/we-want-the-world-to-focus-on-children-whose-lives-have-been/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Once I started on 'Frances' I discovered it was literally a bottomless well. It devastated me to maintain that for eighteen weeks, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/once-i-started-on-frances-i-discovered-it-was-literally-a-bottomless/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I guess my voice kind of changed in middle school. It was what it is now. I remember there was this boy who used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/i-guess-my-voice-kind-of-changed-in-middle-school-it-was-what-it-is/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [I was filled with angst in college, that I struggled with the question of my future, the meaning of my life - spoiled sheltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/i-was-filled-with-angst-in-college-that-i-struggled-with-the-question/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [Sometimes women get devastated by failing. Athletes don't; they just know that means they've got to practise harder, and they've got to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/sometimes-women-get-devastated-by-failing-athletes-don-t-they-just/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [Man's destiny was to conquer and rule the world, and this is what he's done.. almost. He hasn't quite made it, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/man-s-destiny-was-to-conquer-and-rule-the-world-and-this-is-what-he-s/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [I always said I would never leave 'Big Brother' unless I was sacked or not wanted, so if it does go elsewhere and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-always-said-i-would-never-leave-big-brother-unless-i-was-sacked-or/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-merrill/i-was-devastated-i-m-still-devastated-to-this-day-when-talent-like/) Helen Merrill > [“It hurts imagining what it'll be like once he knows. He'll hate me. 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If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/southerners-whose-ancestors-a-hundred-years-ago-knew-the-horrors-of-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [My mom passed down to me her old Levi's denim jacket. When I left it on a plane, I was devastated. I've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-james/my-mom-passed-down-to-me-her-old-levi-s-denim-jacket-when-i-left-it/) [Lily James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-james/) > [“Authors: The only people you thank for leaving you emotionally devastated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-the-stacks-bookstore/authors-the-only-people-you-thank-for-leaving-you-emotionally/) Love The Stacks Bookstore ## More by Colleen Hoover > [Please don't allow anyone to make you feel less than what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/please-don-t-allow-anyone-to-make-you-feel-less-than-what-you-are/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Some people they grow wiser as they grow older. Unfortunately, most people just grow older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/some-people-they-grow-wiser-as-they-grow-older-unfortunately-most/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-can-t-get-mad-at-a-real-ending-some-of-them-are-ugly-it-s-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-ve-been-looking-for-you-my-whole-damn-life/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I tilt my head and look at him. He's watching me, but I can't tell what his face is trying to convey. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-tilt-my-head-and-look-at-him-he-s-watching-me-but-i-can-t-tell-what/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We'll either come to a mutual understanding of one another, or he's going to kill me and chop me up into tiny pieces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-ll-either-come-to-a-mutual-understanding-of-one-another-or-he-s/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Ridge: Oh, and btw, I didn't write that on your forehead. What? I run to the dresser and look in the mirror for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/ridge-oh-and-btw-i-didn-t-write-that-on-your-forehead-what-i-run-to/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I feel like my maybe someday just became my right now .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-feel-like-my-maybe-someday-just-became-my-right-now/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/that-s-all-i-need-i-say-well-i-need-the-lamp-and-the-astray-and-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Because if you've never felt anything when someone's kissed you, then no one's ever really kissed you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/because-if-you-ve-never-felt-anything-when-someone-s-kissed-you-then/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate lays her head on my arm, and we both watch her. Our daughter. I love you so much, Sam. I’m looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-lays-her-head-on-my-arm-and-we-both-watch-her-our-daughter-i/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I have been entertaining the idea, Sky. Believe me. It’s just a huge step that can’t be undone once it’s taken.” “What if it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-have-been-entertaining-the-idea-sky-believe-me-it-s-just-a-huge/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) [Explore all 1,065 Colleen Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More Devastated quotes > [“Authors: The only people you thank for leaving you emotionally devastated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-the-stacks-bookstore/authors-the-only-people-you-thank-for-leaving-you-emotionally/) Love The Stacks Bookstore > [My mom passed down to me her old Levi's denim jacket. When I left it on a plane, I was devastated. I've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-james/my-mom-passed-down-to-me-her-old-levi-s-denim-jacket-when-i-left-it/) [Lily James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-james/) > [Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/southerners-whose-ancestors-a-hundred-years-ago-knew-the-horrors-of-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/michael-jackson-is-the-reason-why-i-do-music-and-why-i-am-an/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“It hurts imagining what it'll be like once he knows. He'll hate me. I never knew I could be devastated by something that hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-malone/it-hurts-imagining-what-it-ll-be-like-once-he-knows-he-ll-hate-me-i/) [M. Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-malone/) > [I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-merrill/i-was-devastated-i-m-still-devastated-to-this-day-when-talent-like/) Helen Merrill > [I always said I would never leave 'Big Brother' unless I was sacked or not wanted, so if it does go elsewhere and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-always-said-i-would-never-leave-big-brother-unless-i-was-sacked-or/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [Man's destiny was to conquer and rule the world, and this is what he's done.. almost. He hasn't quite made it, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/man-s-destiny-was-to-conquer-and-rule-the-world-and-this-is-what-he-s/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [Sometimes women get devastated by failing. Athletes don't; they just know that means they've got to practise harder, and they've got to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/sometimes-women-get-devastated-by-failing-athletes-don-t-they-just/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [I was filled with angst in college, that I struggled with the question of my future, the meaning of my life - spoiled sheltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/i-was-filled-with-angst-in-college-that-i-struggled-with-the-question/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [I guess my voice kind of changed in middle school. It was what it is now. I remember there was this boy who used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/i-guess-my-voice-kind-of-changed-in-middle-school-it-was-what-it-is/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [Once I started on 'Frances' I discovered it was literally a bottomless well. It devastated me to maintain that for eighteen weeks, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/once-i-started-on-frances-i-discovered-it-was-literally-a-bottomless/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [We want the world to focus on children whose lives have been devastated by AIDS. The millions of children who are missing their parents;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/we-want-the-world-to-focus-on-children-whose-lives-have-been/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I would like especially to mention you, the women, wives and mothers of Paraguay, who at great cost and sacrifice were able to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-would-like-especially-to-mention-you-the-women-wives-and-mothers-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) Browse all 231 Devastated quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She gave the word devastated a whole new meaning. I truly believed, at that point, that the word devastated should be reserved for mothers. I no longer believe that. 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