as in ravage
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as in destroying
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 ravaging
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
The question of whether or not Uniqlo is fast fashion or sustainable fashion or ethical fashion has perhaps become irrelevant in a world in which fashion—no modifier needed—is increasingly culpable for the ravaging of the planet.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
While the war is ravaging many parts of the Middle East, upending daily life in countries in that region, the effects in the United States are mostly economic so far.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
In this alternate past, a fatal blood virus, known informally as the Red Wind, has been ravaging the population for about a decade.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Because the nerves were already ravaging his poise.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
This is a chilling history of a problem still ravaging significant swaths of America — not to mention elsewhere in the world.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Of course, this being 1985, the rapidly escalating AIDS epidemic was already ravaging gay communities worldwide.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
The program centers in part on combating the spread of the European green crab, an invasive species that is ravaging local ecosystems.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025
Noun
But Haynes reminds her church flock to respond with love to the ravaging of their inclusive gesture.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
The question of whether or not Uniqlo is fast fashion or sustainable fashion or ethical fashion has perhaps become irrelevant in a world in which fashion—no modifier needed—is increasingly culpable for the ravaging of the planet.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Taiwanese friends have told me that the tariffs are ravaging their businesses.
—Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
While the war is ravaging many parts of the Middle East, upending daily life in countries in that region, the effects in the United States are mostly economic so far.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
In this alternate past, a fatal blood virus, known informally as the Red Wind, has been ravaging the population for about a decade.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Because the nerves were already ravaging his poise.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
This is a chilling history of a problem still ravaging significant swaths of America — not to mention elsewhere in the world.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Of course, this being 1985, the rapidly escalating AIDS epidemic was already ravaging gay communities worldwide.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
The program centers in part on combating the spread of the European green crab, an invasive species that is ravaging local ecosystems.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravaging
Verb
-
Neighbors like Vetsch off Marion Road are convinced that's what hit their neighborhood, destroying multiple homes.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Voting out the party that has been destroying our country must be our only focus.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At least, there was a lot less wrecking.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The annual rains have been failing over the past several years, interrupted in 2023 by devastating flooding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
But his professional success masks a series of devastating personal tragedies.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The fighting has carved a path of destruction from agricultural towns near the border to Beirut, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing in excess of 1 million others, according to Lebanese authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Washington wanted to test if the Iranian command, after seeing the destruction from six weeks of war and the killing of its Supreme Leader, would now bend to its will, experts said.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the filing, Omni Hotels outlined a five-year timeframe that would get the site fully designed, permitted and prepared for construction, noting construction would not start until at least five years after the demolishing of the buildings on site.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Against desecration of our flag bill 4.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In both films, the effect is of a diminution, a depersonalization—not to say, a desecration of the experience of horror that the documentary element embodies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The only thing that would satisfy the gremlin in me is the ruination of my freedom.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
-
On the left side of the stage, the ruination of the world around Tuesday and Weeks is symbolized by the show’s most astonishing physical feature: Shipley’s magnificent creation of glow-in-the-dark coral-like formations clinging to two other columns.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ravaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravaging. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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