[rav.age] n [F, fr. MF, fr. ravir to ravish--more at ravish] (ca. 1611) 1: an act or practice of ravaging
2: damage resulting from ravaging: violently destructive effect "the ~s of time"
[2]ravage vb rav.aged ; rav.ag.ing vt (ca. 1611): to wreak havoc on: affect destructively ~ vi: to commit destructive actions -- rav.age.ment n -- rav.ag.er n syn ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying. ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction "a hurricane ravaged the coast". devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area "an earthquake devastated the city". waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action "years of drought had wasted the area". sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place "barbarians sacked ancient Rome". pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack "settlements pillaged by Vikings". despoil applies to looting or robbing of a place or person without suggesting accompanying destruction "the Nazis despoiled the art museums".