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 without suggesting accompanying destruction.
the Nazis despoiled the art museums
Example Sentences
The flood devastated the town. The disease has devastated the area's oak tree population. The hurricane left the island completely devastated.
Recent Examples on the WebThe flooding continued to devastate the area Wednesday with rushing water reaching Montana's largest city. Hannah Phillips, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 Avian influenza, which can devastate chicken flocks, has had a major impact on the output of farms worldwide. Bloomberg News, oregonlive, 31 May 2022 Otters eat sea urchins, which can devastate kelp forests. Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 May 2022 Two hundred fifty million dollars would buy 5,000 Switchblade drones, which could devastate landing craft, armored vehicles, and small assault ships. Roger Wicker, WSJ, 4 May 2022 Requests for their return have mainly fallen upon deaf ears, as cultural institutions assert that returns would devastate their collections, or that the objects could not be adequately cared for elsewhere. Annalisa Bolin, Longreads, 28 July 2022 Half of the new commercial is a repeat of arguments Democrats made in 2018: That Stefanowski’s tax plan would devastate state services.Hartford Courant, 14 July 2022 The collaborative said dumping the water would devastate the industry, and the local economy along with it. Jennifer Mcdermott, ajc, 9 Apr. 2022 The collaborative said dumping the water would devastate the industry, and the local economy along with it. Jennifer Mcdermott, chicagotribune.com, 9 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin devastatus, past participle of devastare, from de- + vastare to lay waste — more at waste