ravage

1 of 2

noun

rav·​age ˈra-vij How to pronounce ravage (audio)
Synonyms of ravagenext
1
: an act or practice of ravaging
2
: damage resulting from ravaging : violently destructive effect
the ravages of time

ravage

2 of 2

verb

ravaged; ravaging

transitive verb

: to wreak havoc on : affect destructively
a land ravaged by war

intransitive verb

: to commit destructive actions
ravagement
ˈra-vij-mənt How to pronounce ravage (audio)
noun
ravager noun

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for ravage

ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying.

ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Examples of ravage in a Sentence

Verb Hurricane Andrew ravaged Louisiana and Florida in 1992, causing $19 billion in damage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
As medical doctors, Gloria Ethel and her husband Elliott have seen how malnutrition— particularly among children— ravages communities. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 But when disasters like Hurricane Helene ravage areas these people live in, that ought to drive us to recommit to the institutions and practices that have made so many of us safer from natural disasters. —Connor Okeeffe, Orange County Register, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
Nearly 250 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by ravaging flames and smoke. —Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024 The system was crucial for Kyiv's government and military communications, after Russian attacks ravaged the country's infrastructure. —Axios, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ravage 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, "destruction, damage (by human or animal agency, or by natural or nonmaterial causes, as disease or age)," going back to Middle French, "destruction by human agency, pillage, violent flood of water," from ravir "to seize forcefully, plunder, sweep along" (going back to Old French) + -age age — more at ravish

Verb

borrowed from French ravager, derivative of ravage "destruction, damage" — more at ravage entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of ravage was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near ravage

rauwolfia

ravage

rave

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ravage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ravage. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

ravage

1 of 2 noun
rav·​age ˈrav-ij How to pronounce ravage (audio)
: violently destructive action or effect

ravage

2 of 2 verb
ravaged; ravaging
: to attack or act upon with great violence
a forest ravaged by fire
ravagement
-mənt How to pronounce ravage (audio)
noun
ravager noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ravage

Nglish: Translation of ravage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ravage for Arabic Speakers

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