as in destroyed
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
the hurricane ravaged the state and caused billions of dollars worth of damage
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Recent Examples of ravaged
In November, researchers published findings about the deadly pathogens that ravaged Napoleon's soldiers during his doomed 1812 retreat from Russia.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Texans were ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
White phosphorus also ignited large-scale fires that ravaged oak and pine forests and devastated wildlife.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But that progress hit some snags last season as injuries ravaged the Trojans’ depth on defense.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The 2025 coaching cycle was more like a cyclone that ravaged coaching staffs from Baton Rouge to Blacksburg to Berkeley.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
And the rest of us are ravaged with student debt.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
About 90 years ago, American farmers in the Great Plains had so ravaged the thin soil there that a series of droughts turned the region into a vast expanse of dust, which formed monstrous storms and polluted the skies in cities hundreds of miles away.
—Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
Inflation has ravaged household budgets.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The Texans were ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
White phosphorus also ignited large-scale fires that ravaged oak and pine forests and devastated wildlife.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But that progress hit some snags last season as injuries ravaged the Trojans’ depth on defense.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The 2025 coaching cycle was more like a cyclone that ravaged coaching staffs from Baton Rouge to Blacksburg to Berkeley.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
And the rest of us are ravaged with student debt.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
About 90 years ago, American farmers in the Great Plains had so ravaged the thin soil there that a series of droughts turned the region into a vast expanse of dust, which formed monstrous storms and polluted the skies in cities hundreds of miles away.
—Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
Inflation has ravaged household budgets.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravaged
Verb
-
Well, Federer just destroyed him — 6-1, 6-4 in about 50 minutes — and that left a lot of time to fill.—
Patrick McEnroe,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The fire killed two people, destroyed 1,084 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion in property damage.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
California lawmakers proposed $90 million in new funding for Planned Parenthood and reproductive health providers devastated by federal defunding.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Stan, devastated by their betrayal, still can't quite wrap his head around it.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Frankly, this ruined my birthday for me for the next forty years.—
Gaby Iori
January 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Knowing what not to wash together can save plenty of headaches (and ruined garments and linens) down the line.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ravaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravaged. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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