ravage
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1rav·age
noun \ˈra-vij\Definition of RAVAGE
1
: an act or practice of ravaging
2
: damage resulting from ravaging : violently destructive effect <the ravages of time>
See Origin of RAVAGE
French, from Middle French, from ravir to ravish — more at ravish
First Known Use: circa 1611
Rhymes with RAVAGE
2ravage
verbrav·agedrav·ag·ing
Definition of RAVAGE
transitive verb
: to wreak havoc on : affect destructively <a land ravaged by war>
intransitive verb
: to commit destructive actions
— rav·age·ment \-vij-mənt\ noun
— rav·ag·er noun
Examples of RAVAGE
- <Hurricane Andrew ravaged Louisiana and Florida in 1992, causing $19 billion in damage.>
First Known Use of RAVAGE
circa 1611
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
Rhymes with RAVAGE
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