Ravenous and ravishing are not synonyms, and mixing these two words may lead to potentially awkward writing or conversation. Ravenous is commonly used with the meaning “very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification,” and ravishing means “unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking.” If you find yourself hungry and standing in front of a spectacular-looking meal you would say (of the food) “that looks ravishing,” and (of yourself) “I am ravenous.” You may, of course, describe yourself as ravishing, but should be aware that you are commenting on your appearance rather than your hunger.
She is a ravishing beauty.
a ravishing view of the ocean
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Meanwhile, the ears are massaged by a muscular orchestral score that’s among Alexandre Desplat’s most ravishing work.—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025 An adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s classic 1932 Scottish novel, Sunset Song is at once a quintessentially Davies meditation on family and the past, and his most pictorially ravishing work.—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025 Venus will make its ravishing debut in Aries the following day, spicing things up in your social life while increasing the likelihood of encountering passion and romance.—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025 But the duo’s approach also began with getting the ravishing visual details of period Japan right.—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for ravishing
Word History
Etymology
Middle English ravyschinge "rapacious, rapidly moving, delightful, enchanting," from present participle of ravisshen "to ravish"
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