ravaged

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ravaged" is correct and is widely used in written English.
It means to cause severe damage to something or someone, usually as a result of a natural disaster, an act of war, or some other type of violence. Example sentence: The hurricane ravaged the small town, leaving nearly all of its buildings in ruins.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Not since the damaging Gaitskellite v Bevanite spilt in the 1950s has Labour been so ravaged.

The Guardian

However, the TV industry does not see itself as following in the footsteps of music, which has been ravaged by illegal downloads.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Two devastating fires in the favela, in 2011 and 2012, left hundreds homeless; in the first, which ravaged a large industrial building in which 300 families lived, at least two deaths were officially registered but the community believes as many as 30 died.

The Guardian

An incident recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes how, in AD 874, a marauding band of Vikings ravaged the Chichester countryside, "and the citizens put them to flight, and killed many hundreds of them".

The Guardian - Travel

The notoriously leaky north-light studio windows, ravaged by the flames, will be replaced with versions that hopefully keep out the drips.

The Guardian - Arts

The possum's woes have been exacerbated by fire, with the report showing that of the 195,000ha of potential habitat for the possum, 35% was burnt during the 2009 bush fires, with nearly half of the most valuable habitat being ravaged by the flames.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

That put it ahead of Congo, Guinea-Bissau (sometimes deemed a narco-state), desolate Chad, repressive Eritrea, the civil-war-ravaged Central African Republic, and Somalia, which is still widely viewed as a failed state.The WJP report, issued in Washington, counts 18 African countries among those it measures, and uses eight yardsticks to assess how the rule of law is experienced.

The Economist

Skydiving commandos, a homemade killer drone and even a pair of animatronic dinosaurs were all deployed by Pakistan's army on Monday in an attempt to deliver a much-needed shot of self-confidence to the terrorism-ravaged country.

The Guardian

Alongside this, negotiators will also be looking to progress on a negotiating track known as "loss and damage" where developing countries (in particular small island states and countries such as the typhoon-ravaged Philippines) are compensated for climate change impacts.

The Guardian

But the country's war-ravaged infrastructure has made the collection of reliable data an almost impossible task.

The Guardian

Fresh evidence of the impact of the latest austerity measures on Greece's recession-ravaged government came from Bank of Greece governor Giorgos Provopoulos, who predicted that the economy would shrink by 5% this year, with wages set to decline by another 10%.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ravaged" when you want to emphasize the severity and extent of damage caused by a destructive force, such as war, natural disasters, or disease.

Common error

Avoid using "ravaged" to describe minor damage or inconveniences. The term is best reserved for situations involving significant destruction and suffering.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ravaged" is as a past participle verb, often used in passive constructions or as an adjective. Ludwig AI confirms its use in describing states of severe damage or destruction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "ravaged" functions as a verb signifying severe damage or destruction, commonly employed to depict devastation caused by events like natural disasters or conflict. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, its correct grammatical standing and widespread usage are evident across diverse contexts, predominantly within news and media, but also in scientific and formal business domains. When writing, prioritize "ravaged" to denote profound destruction, averting its utilization in scenarios involving minor damage. Consider alternatives like "devastated" or "destroyed" to finely tune the meaning according to context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastated

Similar in meaning, but carries a stronger emotional connotation of destruction.

utterly destroyed

Focuses directly on the complete destruction.

severely damaged

Emphasizes the intensity of the damage inflicted.

laid waste

Highlights the act of making something desolate and barren.

completely ruined

Stresses the irreparable nature of the damage.

left in ruins

Focuses on the resulting state of destruction.

torn apart

Emphasizes a violent or forceful separation into pieces.

despoiled

Suggests the forceful removal of valuable or important qualities.

desecrated

Suggests a violation of something sacred or highly valued.

wreaked havoc on

Highlights the disruptive and chaotic impact of the destructive force.

FAQs

How is "ravaged" typically used in a sentence?

The word "ravaged" is typically used as a verb to describe something that has been severely damaged or destroyed. For example: "The storm "ravaged" the coastline."

What words are similar to "ravaged"?

Synonyms for "ravaged" include "devastated", "destroyed", and "ruined". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "ravaged" to describe emotional distress?

While primarily used to describe physical destruction, "ravaged" can be used metaphorically to describe a state of extreme emotional distress or weariness. However, consider if a more specific term might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "ravaged" and "damaged"?

"Damaged" implies some level of harm, while "ravaged" suggests a much more severe and widespread level of destruction. Using "ravaged" indicates that something is almost beyond repair or recognition.