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 recent months, Ukraine has time and again attacked Russian energy infrastructure in a bid to both dent the Kremlin's war chest and bring the reality of a war that has ravaged Ukraine home to Russians as well.
—
Charles Maynes, NPR, 18 June 2026
The good news is that skies have since cleared, but for much of Wednesday morning and afternoon, residents in Streator, about 90 miles southwest of Chicago and already ravaged by an EF-3 tornado, were getting pummeled with rain.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 17 June 2026
The post-apocalyptic horror film stars Will Smith as a virologist and the last living human in a New York ravaged by a plague that turns humans into vampiric mutants.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Fergie’s family, like so many at the time, were reeling from a hurricane that ravaged the island four weeks earlier on its way to slam into Galveston, Texas.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic America that is ravaged by supernatural creatures.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 June 2026
According to prosecutors' opening statements June 10, the wildfire that ravaged Los Angeles' affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood was part of a vengeful plot from a man who resented the wealthy.
—Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Deirdre O’Mahony interviews Irish farmers who’ve likewise watched their labor and craft ravaged by capitalism, but turns their woes into a memorable libretto set to striking aerial views of their fields.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Charles Maynes, NPR, 18 June 2026
The good news is that skies have since cleared, but for much of Wednesday morning and afternoon, residents in Streator, about 90 miles southwest of Chicago and already ravaged by an EF-3 tornado, were getting pummeled with rain.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 17 June 2026
The post-apocalyptic horror film stars Will Smith as a virologist and the last living human in a New York ravaged by a plague that turns humans into vampiric mutants.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Fergie’s family, like so many at the time, were reeling from a hurricane that ravaged the island four weeks earlier on its way to slam into Galveston, Texas.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic America that is ravaged by supernatural creatures.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 June 2026
According to prosecutors' opening statements June 10, the wildfire that ravaged Los Angeles' affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood was part of a vengeful plot from a man who resented the wealthy.
—Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Deirdre O’Mahony interviews Irish farmers who’ve likewise watched their labor and craft ravaged by capitalism, but turns their woes into a memorable libretto set to striking aerial views of their fields.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravaged
Verb
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The second inferno killed 12 people, destroyed 6,500 structures across the Palisades and Malibu and cost billions in damage and insurance claims.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
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In Paradise, California, a community destroyed by wildfire adopted the ‘Wildfire Prepared Home Standard’ as its mandatory rebuilding benchmark.—
Nina Seega,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
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In a phone interview with The Times, her sister, Vanessa Marseille, said the family was shocked and devastated over the incident.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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Wilson was devastated by losing debates about the design of Congress and the presidency, and in particular by the convention’s refusal to acknowledge the centrality of regular people to the government.—
Jesse Wegman,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Showing up to shoot in person would only have ruined the city with its realness.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
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Pete Crow-Armstrong put his name in the Chicago Cubs' record book next to Hall of Fame slugger Hack Wilson — and then nearly ruined the celebration at Wrigley Field.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ravaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravaged. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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