Ravage is a word for severevery strong or intense; more serious than usual destructionthe act of ruining something completely or ruin. It can also refer to destructivecausing harm or ruin; tending to damage things damage itself, especially in the plural form ravages.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈrævɪdʒ/
Easy pronunciation: RAV-ij (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Verb meaning to cause extensive destruction or ruin.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Ravage Meaning
to damage something badly and leave it in ruins
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cause extensive destruction or ruin
Example: The fire ravaged the forest overnight.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- devastate — A strong everyday synonym for causing great destruction.
- desolate — Can work in this sense, though it is less common in modern everyday English.
- lay waste to — A direct substitute when talking about destroying land, buildings, or places.
- waste — Can mean destroy or ruin, but is less precise and less common than devastate.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Ravage
Meaning 2
to raid and damage a place aggressively
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make a pillaging or destructive raid on a place, especially in wartime
Example: The army ravaged the coastal towns.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- harry — Fits the sense of harassing or raiding, especially in war.
Meaning 3
damage or destruction caused by something over time
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a destructive action or effect, especially in the plural
Example: The ravages of time were visible in the old building.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- depredation — A formal noun that can refer to destructive acts or damage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Ravage Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- devastate
- lay waste to
War-raiding or pillaging sense
- harry
Noun sense: destructive damage or effects
- depredation
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using ravage as a general synonym for any kind of damage, when it usually implies severe destruction.
- Confusing the verb ravage with the noun ravages, which usually means destructive effects or damage over time.
- Using harry for ordinary destruction; it is more about raiding, harassing, or pursuing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ravage mean?
Ravage means to cause severe damage or destruction. It can also refer to the destructive effects themselves, especially in the phrase the ravages of something.
What is a simple synonym for ravage?
A strong simple synonym is devastate. In some contexts, lay waste to also works well.
Is ravage always a verb?
No. It is often used as a verb, but the plural noun ravages is also common, meaning destructive damage or effects.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
