devastate

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