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
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English sak bag, sackcloth, from Old English sacc, from Latin saccus bag & Late Latin saccus sackcloth, both from Greek sakkos bag, sackcloth, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew śaq bag, sackcloth
Noun (2)
modification of Middle French sec dry, from Latin siccus; probably akin to Old High German sīhan to filter, Sanskrit siñcati he pours
Noun (3) and Verb (2)
Middle French sac, from Old Italian sacco, literally, bag, from Latin saccus
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1