ravage

1 of 2

noun

rav·​age ˈra-vij 

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 

noun

ravager noun

Synonyms

Verb

• destroy
• devastate
• ruin

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

Verb

Tulane wore its green home uniforms, but wanted to wear white away jerseys in a nod to its 2005 team that wore white after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, forcing the team to play all 12 of its games on the road that season. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Just ask Dan Campbell’s hard-charging Detroit Lions, who at one point had 21 players on IR last year and got upset in the playoffs because they’d been ravaged by injuries. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025

When water and wind ravaged his hometown and displaced his family in 2005, Miller found hope in the goodness and generosity of others. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025

The wind ravaged the storm chasers, grit coating their skin as some scrambled to pack up their gear. —Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for ravage

• gavage
• lavage

Kids Definition

ravage

1 of 2 noun

rav·​age ˈrav-ij 

: 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 

noun

ravager noun