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
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
It should also never be forgotten that the five who approved this ravaging of the city’s beach are the exact same five who voted to give themselves enormous pay raises and more lavish health care benefits last July — another stealth move with scant notice to the taxpaying public.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
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
Though humans are responsible for the ravaging of the coral reefs, to exist in a place like Dominica is to be a part of an ongoing cycle of destruction and regeneration.
—Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024
Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
But Haiti’s ravaging cycle of violence is increasingly making even this hard as the game Haitians love increasingly become a casualty of the gang wars.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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
Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
This season’s ravaging reached further, for guards and wings and virtually anyone of relevance.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
It should also never be forgotten that the five who approved this ravaging of the city’s beach are the exact same five who voted to give themselves enormous pay raises and more lavish health care benefits last July — another stealth move with scant notice to the taxpaying public.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
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
Though humans are responsible for the ravaging of the coral reefs, to exist in a place like Dominica is to be a part of an ongoing cycle of destruction and regeneration.
—Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024
Verb
In the penultimate episode, a fire at the Pineville Dam spiraled out of control, ravaging the infrastructure and causing the dam to break.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
But Haiti’s ravaging cycle of violence is increasingly making even this hard as the game Haitians love increasingly become a casualty of the gang wars.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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
Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravaging
Noun
-
In Bird Box, mysterious entities that drive people who look at them completely insane ravage the planet, and the only way to survive is to not look at them.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
Today, doctors consider schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as the two chief categories of severe mental illness; the first ravages the mind, the second the emotions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It was compounded when a West Contra Costa storage unit caught fire, destroying Alvin’s belongings, their mother testified.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
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 British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The carp have already shifted Mississippi River ecosystems by crowding out native fish, devastating some areas.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
She was arrested at a hotel near the barn and booked at the Clark County Juvenile Hall on 12 counts of animal cruelty, including intentionally aiming or torturing a horse, as well as three counts of malicious destruction of property.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
The teen, who was at a nearby hotel, was taken into custody and booked for 12 counts of willful/malicious kill/maim/torture animal -- horse and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000, police said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
1 June 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
-
Gerlach is facing nearly 500 charges — including burglary, abuse of a corpse and desecration of monuments — tied to a disturbing investigation at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, the outlet reported.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Against desecration of our flag bill 4.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The only thing that would satisfy the gremlin in me is the ruination of my freedom.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ravaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravaging. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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