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
Javier Torres, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
Hurricane Melissa, currently ravaging the Caribbean, is a perfect example of why climate adaptation finance is so badly needed.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Sean Paul is doing his part to help minimize and repair the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, which is currently ravaging his homeland of Jamaica.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
With William, the Schitt's Creek star reflected on how quickly the traumatic loss happened, as the southern California winds were blowing over 100 miles per hour amid the ravaging fires.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In the late seventies, heroin began ravaging Dublin’s inner-city projects.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Hatred, spread through rhetoric, populism and the internet, acts like a virus, ravaging any healthy social organism and bringing, death, destruction and pain.
—Alejandro González Iñárritu, Deadline, 15 Oct. 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
Already the fires ravaging the hillsides forced 50,000 people to evacuate.
—Javier Torres, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
Hurricane Melissa, currently ravaging the Caribbean, is a perfect example of why climate adaptation finance is so badly needed.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Sean Paul is doing his part to help minimize and repair the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, which is currently ravaging his homeland of Jamaica.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
With William, the Schitt's Creek star reflected on how quickly the traumatic loss happened, as the southern California winds were blowing over 100 miles per hour amid the ravaging fires.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In the late seventies, heroin began ravaging Dublin’s inner-city projects.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Hatred, spread through rhetoric, populism and the internet, acts like a virus, ravaging any healthy social organism and bringing, death, destruction and pain.
—Alejandro González Iñárritu, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravaging
Verb
-
The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Where, in the springtime, sudden storms send tornadoes tearing through towns, destroying everything in their wake.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
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In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing.—
Time,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While an eight-game winning run saw Cherki, Foden and Haaland hit their devastating best, three frustrating draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were characterised by wastefulness in front of goal.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Group members want to see Bonta’s office take ownership of a review, as occurred in Hawaii after Maui’s devastating Lahaina fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In June 2025, EOS demonstrated the destruction of a tank using a Rodeur 330 fitted with an inert warhead, controlled via FPV.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
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While navigating Westport by car or on foot is chaotic right now, the goal is to prevent destruction in the future.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Leonard was also charged in Linn County with interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from Kansas City, Kansas, police.—
Kendrick Calfee
Updated January 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 Jan. 2026
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The government called for a nationwide march on Monday in support of the regime and in opposition to what authorities described as recent acts of desecration and insults against Islamic symbols, including the Quran, by protesters.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Advertisement What’s perhaps most critical around the plague is its embodiment of feelings of destruction and ruination.—
Nathan Smith,
Time,
26 Nov. 2025
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By now, my colleagues have grown accustomed to my gleeful ruination of the workplace.—
Ariel Dumas,
New Yorker,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ravaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravaging. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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