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

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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

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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 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 From there, the scene jumps to Milan, where Andy and Miranda are seen attending myriad fashion shows and wearing a series of ravishing getups, all soundtracked once again by Madonna’s 1990 hit. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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
  • That opening-day land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom delighted families for 28 years, but officially closed in February 2026 to make way for an entirely new Tropical Americas land.
    Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to its name, this vista is sure to delight the foliage-minded among us.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • More than two dozen law enforcement officials, from crime analysts to chiefs of police, have been charged with violating their oaths of office and conducting unauthorized searches within the Flock Safety system in Georgia in the past few months.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The letter alleged the Smithsonian ​may have violated anti-discrimination laws.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Morgan’s resolute denials pleased his family and friends, but in fact he was deeply rattled.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Investor-pleasing language can substitute for a distinctive customer system.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And the noise that this is making is something that is a cacophony of the world enraptured.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • The world was enraptured by Kennedy and Bessette (portrayed on the series by Sarah Pidgeon), who were constantly trailed by the paparazzi and scrutinized by the tabloid media.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • But the darker side of humanity has always fascinated me, as do mystical practices.
    Ashley Woo, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As Oppenheim put it at the film’s Venice press conference, he’d long been fascinated by Hansen, and only became more so after his wife gifted him a Cameo from the host for his birthday.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • To satisfy its voracity for billions of pages, Anthropic started out by placing mass orders with wholesalers, before turning to individual and secondhand booksellers to help fill in the gaps.
    Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There are other ways to provide enrichment, like rotating toys every day to stimulate exploration, using puzzle feeder dishes to satisfy hunting behaviors and playing videos for your cat showing birds or fish.
    Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Pop music is enchanted with electric guitar this year between the Charli XCX and Olivia Rodrigo rock albums.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • At first spritz, you’re instantly enchanted and uplifted by sparkling, tart notes of pomelo and yuzu.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Calm and witty, impassioned and informed, clear-eyed yet hopeful, Gloria enthralled them — and the entire audience — for almost two hours.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Lane’s acrobatic and seemingly effortless catches have enthralled a fan base obsessed with the idea of a dynamic homegrown receiving corps.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ravish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravish. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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