ravage

²ravage

verb

rav·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

1. <Hurricane Andrew ravaged Louisiana and Florida in 1992, causing $19 billion in damage.>

First Known Use of RAVAGE

circa 1611

Related to RAVAGE

Synonyms: destroy, devastate, ruin, scourge

Related Words: despoil, foray, harry, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack, strip; annihilate, desolate, eradicate, expunge, extinguish, extirpate, nuke, obliterate, rub out, shatter, smash, total, vaporize, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck; decimate, mow; demolish, raze; crush, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelm

Near Antonyms: recondition, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, restore; fix, mend, patch, repair, revamp

[+]more[-]hide

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

savage