ravage
7 synonyms and 3 antonyms for ravage, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To cause severe damage or destruction to something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To cause severe damage or destruction to something.
“The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest.”
Opposites
2. noun
Severe damage or destruction, usually used in the plural.
“The village never fully recovered from the ravages of the flood.”
How to use ravage
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
ravaged by fire
the ravages of time
ravage the land
Etymology
From French ravage, from ravir ("to snatch away"), ultimately from Latin rapere ("to seize"), the same root behind "rapid" and "rapture."
Full origin of ravage →Frequently asked questions
What does “ravage” mean?
The word “ravage” means to cause severe damage or destruction to something. In plain terms, to wreck or devastate something badly, or the destruction itself.
How do you pronounce “ravage”?
“Ravage” is pronounced RA-vihj (/ˈɹævɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ravage” in a sentence?
Here is “ravage” used in a sentence: “The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest.”
What part of speech is “ravage”?
Depending on how it is used, “ravage” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “ravage” come from?
The word “ravage” comes from Latin. From French ravage, from ravir ("to snatch away"), ultimately from Latin rapere ("to seize"), the same root behind "rapid" and "rapture.".
How many meanings does “ravage” have?
“Ravage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cause severe damage or destruction to something.
