ravage 1 of 2

verb

Definition of ravagenext
as in to destroy
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action the hurricane ravaged the state and caused billions of dollars worth of damage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ravage

2 of 2

noun

as in ravaging

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ravage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ravage are despoil, devastate, pillage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When would despoil be a good substitute for ravage?

In some situations, the words despoil and ravage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of ravage?

While the synonyms devastate and ravage are close in meaning, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of ravage?

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

settlements pillaged by Vikings

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to ravage?

The meanings of sack and ravage largely overlap; however, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

In what contexts can waste take the place of ravage?

While in some cases nearly identical to ravage, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ravage
Verb
Even Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher has spoken out on the issue while his home state is ravaged by controversy. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025 The Los Angeles Dodgers have been ravaged by the injury bug early in the 2025 season. —Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
Noun
But social adaptation has also played a role: many people have come to rely on zero COVID to protect them from the ravages they are told have taken place elsewhere in the world. —Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2022 Feral cats are adept climbers and stalkers, with the ability to climb trees and ravage nests or wait for a shot at an unassuming bird. —Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ravage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravage
  1. destroy
  2. devastate
  3. ruin
  4. destruction
  5. desecration
  6. ruination
Verb
  • Another key feature of algae oil is its high smoke point of 535 degrees—the temperature at which oil begins to break down, release dangerous chemicals, and destroy its nutrients.
    — Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 27 May 2025
  • The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea from a group of Native American activists and supporters to block a copper mining company from destroying an Apache religious site.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2025
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.
    — Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • The Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions Friday in a big first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country devastated by civil war.
    — Abby Sewell, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Definition of devastate
Verb
  • There were missions that felt like a rally racing mini-game, asking me to navigate between timer-extending rings dotting barren desert ruins.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
  • The situation took a turn when Amy accidentally ruined her earbuds in the wash.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • What makes that even scarier is that Florida’s road record — an .800 win percentage matched by only 17 other teams in the modern era — actually undersells the destruction.
    — The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • The book also examines the growing movement to grant legal rights to rivers as a way to prevent their destruction by corporations and governments, which are themselves protected by a vast array of legal rights.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Yet Jesus becomes angered by the desecration of the temple and begins tipping over the merchants' tables in the holy place while wielding a righteous whip.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • In the first of thirteen live, three-hour shows (with Nelle sitting in the studio audience), the thirty-five-year-old Reagan, accompanied by four Black actors, dramatically reenacted Klan cross-burnings, beatings and shootings, and the desecration of synagogues.
    — Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of desecration
Noun
  • Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum MAJOR HEADLINES ‘DAMAGING DECISION’ – Trump says tariff ruling could lead to 'economic ruination' of US.
    — , FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
  • As technology goes, this is a familiar cycle: innovation, monetization, ruination.
    — Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 May 2025
Definition of ruination

Browse Nearby Words

raunchy
ravage
ravaged
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Cite this Entry

“Ravage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravage. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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