ravage
C1Formal, literary, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
To cause severe and extensive damage to something, often violently or destructively.
To devastate or plunder; can also refer to the severely damaging effects of something like disease, time, or emotion on a person or thing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb. As a noun (usually 'ravages'), it refers to the destructive effects of something (e.g., 'the ravages of war'). The verb implies a thorough, violent, and often visible destruction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in meaning and frequency. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical connotations of severe destruction, often with a sense of violence or mercilessness.
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal/written contexts in both varieties; equally understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: agent] ravage [Object: place/thing][Subject: force/event] ravage [Object: place/group]be ravaged by [agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the ravages of time”
- “the ravages of war”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in dramatic descriptions of economic collapse (e.g., 'Inflation ravaged consumer purchasing power.').
Academic
Used in history, political science, and environmental studies to describe severe impact (e.g., 'The conflict ravaged the region's infrastructure.').
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech; used for emphasis about serious disasters or effects (e.g., 'The flu really ravaged our office this winter.').
Technical
Used in meteorology, disaster reporting, and military contexts to describe extensive physical damage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The invading army proceeded to ravage the historic towns.
- Successive storms have ravaged the coastal defences.
- The disease continues to ravage the unprotected population.
American English
- The wildfire ravaged thousands of acres of forest.
- Economic sanctions have ravaged the country's industrial base.
- Grief ravaged her features.
adverb
British English
- The land lay ravagingly bare after the fire. (Rare/poetic)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form in common use.)
adjective
British English
- War-ravaged communities struggled to rebuild.
- They surveyed the storm-ravaged landscape.
American English
- The famine-ravaged region needed immediate aid.
- He returned to his fire-ravaged home.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The strong winds ravaged the garden.
- The illness ravaged his strength.
- The conflict has ravaged the country's infrastructure for a decade.
- Images showed the hurricane-ravaged coastline.
- The financial crisis ravaged the savings of ordinary citizens, leaving many destitute.
- Archaeologists studied a city ravaged by conquest and subsequently abandoned.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RAVen (RAV) at a young AGE (AGE) that is surprisingly strong and destructive, causing ravage.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS A PREDATORY ANIMAL / DESTRUCTION IS A DEVOURING FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'разрушать' (to destroy) in mild contexts; 'ravage' is stronger and implies violent, widespread ruin.
- The noun 'ravages' (опустошительные последствия) is a fixed plural form, not a singular noun.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for minor damage (e.g., 'The scratch ravaged my car.').
- Confusing verb and noun forms ('The ravage of the town was severe' is less idiomatic than 'The ravages...').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'ravage' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they have different origins. 'Ravage' comes from French 'ravager' (to devastate). 'Ravishing' (extremely beautiful) comes from French 'ravir' (to seize, enrapture). They are false friends.
Yes, but it's figurative and literary. For example: 'Guilt ravaged his conscience' or 'Her face was ravaged by grief.' It emphasizes severe, consuming damage.
'Destroy' is the most general. 'Devastate' implies overwhelming destruction, often with emotional impact. 'Ravage' emphasizes violent, often repeated, and widespread damage, leaving ruins or severe traces.
The plural noun 'ravages' is more common than the singular 'ravage'. It's almost always used in set phrases like 'the ravages of time/war/disease'.