Definition of ravishnext
1
as in to delight
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to violate
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ravish While all of them are ravishing to behold, some are every inch as far-fetched as a fox winning an archery tournament or Dave Chappelle becoming the sheriff of a small British city. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2026 Returning to the Bay Area in this ravishing way after more than 30 years is a reminder that this Phantom hasn’t yet lost its bite. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 1 June 2026 Del Toro’s dark, ravishing fantasy set in Francoist Spain — which had taken years to finance and produce, endured a brutal production and emerged from post barely in time — was the last film to screen in competition at that year’s festival. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 However, her origin myth, in which she was hatched from an egg laid by her mother, Leda, who had been ravished by Zeus in the guise of a swan, is plainly invention. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ravish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravish
Verb
  • The Nespresso devotee in your life will delight at the chance to try a different classic or limited-edition coffee capsule every day in the lead-up to Christmas.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Tse Yang was the finest Chinese restaurant to open in Madrid, and its crispy Peking Duck has been delighting locals for years.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • California is among the states that successfully sued, in part by arguing that turning over the data would violate state privacy laws.
    — SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • As noted recently by Deadline, other Chinese AI models continue to plunder IP, including MiniMax H3, which generated videos that violated studio brand safety standards 55% of the time when an image was used in a prompt.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Why are all these female characters just there to please the man?
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And sore must be the storm indeed that can abash the foliage fiesta that pleases so many eyes.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Lee, enraptured, sensed that a transfiguration was happening.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And the noise that this is making is something that is a cacophony of the world enraptured.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The reaction to this movie fascinates me, starting in Cannes.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In 2008, passionate surfer Tim Russo purchased the property, renamed it, and set out to organically grow it into a resort full of wonder where serious surfers and travelers fascinated with the surf lifestyle could vacation happily.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That answer is unlikely to satisfy many Democratic primary voters, according to a poll of six early primary states conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Some have questioned whether the 76ers can keep all of their stars satisfied this season, but Embiid believes the team can succeed without forcing its stars to make major sacrifices or drastically alter their playing styles.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Harvest markets and ghostly performances also enchant—not to mention a Halloween express to convey guests.
    — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • My daughter was enchanted by the Balinese rice-on-the-forehead ritual for good fortune that is a part of the arrival, and the front desk staff happily indulged her request to do it again—multiple times a day.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The show now possesses a spirit so exuberant as to enthrall for its joyous 80 minutes of running time.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • From an entertainment standpoint, people are just so enthralled by the action.
    — Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ravish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravish. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster