Synonyms of ravage

ravage 1 of 2

verb

as in to destroy

to bring destruction to (something) through violent action

the hurricane ravaged the state and caused billions of dollars worth of damage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroy
• devastate
• ruin
• plunder
• scourge
• overwhelm
• wreck
• despoil
• pillage
• shatter
• desolate
• sack
• obliterate
• eradicate
• decimate
• demolish
• strip
• loot
• vaporize
• annihilate
• extirpate
• extinguish
• expunge
• wipe out
• maraud
• smash
• waste
• harry
• raze
• mow
• wrack
• total
• overpower
• nuke
• overrun
• foray
• overthrow
• rub out
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• restore
• rehabilitate
• redeem
• repair
• recondition
• patch
• fix
• mend
• revamp

ravage

2 of 2

noun

as in ravaging

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ravaging
• wrecking
• destruction
• desecration
• ruination
• demolishing
• ruin
• trashing
• desecrating
• vandalism
• demolishment
• sabotage
• pillage
• defacement
• defacing
• plundering
• pillaging
• marauding
• plunder
• looting
• vandalization
• despoiling
• depredation
• predation
• spoliation
• ransacking
• despoilment
• sacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• saving
• conservation
• preservation
• salvage

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ravage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ravage are despoil, devastate, pillage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When would despoil be a good substitute for ravage?

In some situations, the words despoil and ravage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of ravage?

While the synonyms devastate and ravage are close in meaning, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of ravage?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to ravage?

The meanings of sack and ravage largely overlap; however, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

In what contexts can waste take the place of ravage?

While in some cases nearly identical to ravage, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ravage

Verb

In one of his first acts, Trump threatened to withhold federal aid from California after Los Angeles was ravaged by fires in January unless the state complied with a series of unspecified demands. —Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Earth-observing satellites reveal significant ground shift in central Myanmar following the devastating earthquakes that ravaged the area in March. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Noun

At many grocery stores, egg purchases are limited to one-dozen per customer as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) know as bird flu ravages the nation's farms. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

But, alas, the senseless ravages of CIS have claimed yet another innocent victim. —Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025