ravage
Lay waste to
Ravage means to cause severe, widespread damage or destruction.
Armies ravage cities, storms ravage coastlines, disease ravages populations.
The word implies thoroughness—not just harm but devastation: Years of drought had ravaged the farmland.
As a noun, usually plural: the ravages of time, the ravages of war.
Ravage suggests violent force leaving ruin in its wake.
Violent theft of goods
- plunderGoods seized violently
- lootStolen valuables
- sackRough fabric bag
- ransackPlunder while destroying
maraud · raid · conquer · invade · overrun · occupy · besiege · assault
Destroy completely
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
- destroyCause complete ruin
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
obliterate · decimate · desolate · level · raze · gut · shatter · smash
Violent tropical windstorm
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
earthquake · typhoon · cyclone · storm · drought · famine · plague · pandemic
Severe prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
suffering · pain · toll · scars · wounds · damage · haunt · consume
Grow worse over time
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- degradeLower in standing
- crumbleFragment gradually
rot · wither · waste away · atrophy · decline · dilapidate · disintegrate · collapse
pillage
Violent theft of goods
ransack · maraud · raid · conquer · invade · overrun · occupy · besiege · assault · attack
demolish
Destroy completely
annihilate · obliterate · decimate · desolate · level · raze · gut · shatter · smash · reduce to rubble
hurricane
Violent tropical windstorm
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
tsunami · earthquake · typhoon · cyclone · storm · drought · famine · plague · pandemic · epidemic
torment
Severe prolonged suffering
heartbreak · suffering · pain · toll · scars · wounds · damage · haunt · consume · overwhelm
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- degradeLower in standing
crumble · rot · wither · waste away · atrophy · decline · dilapidate · disintegrate · collapse · fall apart
- overexploitationoverfishing, overfish, overhunting, overharvest, overgrazing
- Destroydestroy, annihilate, obliterate, demolish, ruin
- destruction verbsdestroy, demolish, wreck, ruin, smash
- destructiondestruction, destroying, demolishing, devastation, ruination
- harmsharm, damage, injury, hurt, wound
- violent forceimpact, collision, smash, crash, slam
- ravages of timeCumulative damage from age