RAVAGE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'ravage' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ravage are despoil , devastate , pillage , sack , and waste . While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction. // a hurricane ravaged the coast

Q: When would 'despoil' be a good substitute for 'ravage'?

In some situations, the words despoil and ravage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction. // the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Q: When is it sensible to use 'devastate' instead of 'ravage'?

While the synonyms devastate and ravage are close in meaning, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area. // an earthquake devastated the city

Q: How are the words 'pillage' and 'sack' related as synonyms of 'ravage'?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack . // settlements pillaged by Vikings

Q: Where would 'sack' be a reasonable alternative to 'ravage'?

The meanings of sack and ravage largely overlap; however, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place. // barbarians sacked ancient Rome

Q: In what contexts can 'waste' take the place of 'ravage'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ravage , waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action. // years of drought had wasted the area

ravage 1 of 2

verb

Definition of ravage next

as in to destroy

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ravage

2 of 2

noun

as in ravaging

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb ravage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ravage are despoil, devastate, pillage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When would despoil be a good substitute for ravage?

In some situations, the words despoil and ravage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of ravage?

While the synonyms devastate and ravage are close in meaning, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of ravage?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

Where would sack be a reasonable alternative to ravage?

The meanings of sack and ravage largely overlap; however, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

In what contexts can waste take the place of ravage?

While in some cases nearly identical to ravage, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

Examples 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 ravage

Verb

Congressional leaders on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would keep government funding flowing through the middle of March and provide nearly $100 billion in aid for communities ravaged by hurricanes and other disasters. —

Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024 The filing occurred in the aftermath of the 2018 Camp Fire — a deadly blaze that ravaged the community of Paradise and was sparked by the company’s powerlines. —

Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

But when disasters like Hurricane Helene ravage areas these people live in, that ought to drive us to recommit to the institutions and practices that have made so many of us safer from natural disasters. —

Connor Okeeffe, Orange County Register, 9 Oct. 2024 Many Iraqi Christians feel abandoned by their government in the wake of these ravages. —

Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2021 See all Example Sentences for ravage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravage

Verb

Al Shahabi also asked on Facebook where the recordings of surveillance cameras at regime security branches had gone, why some documents had been destroyed and why human rights groups had not done more to protect records.

Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
He is then seen waving the baton, destroying property and throwing items at police, according to his criminal complaint.

Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024