Definition
As a verb, to ravage means to cause great damage, destruction, or ruin to something. As a noun, “ravages” refers to the destructive effects themselves.
Etymology
It comes from French “ravager,” meaning “to devastate,” related to “ravir,” meaning “to seize,” from Latin “rapere,” meaning “to snatch or grab.” The idea shifted from violent taking to violent destroying.
Kelly Says
“Ravage” shares roots with “raptor” and “rape,” all tied to seizing with force, which shows how physical grabbing and large‑scale destruction are linked in language. When we talk about “the ravages of time,” we’re treating time itself like a predator slowly tearing things apart.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
verwoes
fer-VOOS
BGБългарски
опустошавам
o-pus-to-SHA-vam
BNবাংলা
ধ্বংস করা
dhong-sh ko-ra
CACatalà
devastar
de-vas-TAR
CSČeština
pustošit
pus-TO-shit
DEDeutsch
verwüsten
fer-VUUS-ten
ELΕλληνικά
καταστρέφω
ka-ta-STRE-fo
ESEspañol
devastar
de-vas-TAR
ETEesti
laastama
laas-TA-ma
EUEuskara
suntsitu
sun-tsi-TU
FAفارسی
ویران کردن
vee-raan kar-dan
FISuomi
hävittää
HAE-vit-tae
FRFrançais
ravager
ra-va-ZHE
GLGalego
devastar
de-vas-TAR
HIहिन्दी
तबाह करना
ta-BAAH kar-NA
HRHrvatski
pustošiti
pus-TO-shi-ti
HUMagyar
pusztít
PUS-teet
IDBahasa Indonesia
merusak
me-RU-sak
ITItaliano
devastare
de-vas-TA-re
LTLietuvių
niokoti
nyo-KO-ti
LVLatviešu
postīt
pos-TEET
MNМонгол
сүйтгэх
suit-gekh
MSBahasa Melayu
merosakkan
me-ro-SAK-kan
MYမြန်မာ
ဖျက်ဆီး
hpyet-hsi
NLNederlands
verwoesten
fer-VOOS-ten
PLPolski
niszczyć
NISH-chich
PTPortuguês
devastar
de-vas-TAR
RORomână
a devasta
a de-vas-TA
RUРусский
опустошать
o-pus-to-SHAT
SKSlovenčina
pustošiť
pus-TO-shich
SLSlovenščina
opustošiti
o-pus-TO-shi-ti
SRСрпски
пустошити
pus-TO-shi-ti
SWKiswahili
kuharibu
ku-ha-RI-bu
TEతెలుగు
విధ్వంసం చేయు
vidh-vam-sam che-yu
TRTürkçe
tahrip etmek
tah-RIP et-MEK
UKУкраїнська
спустошувати
spus-to-SHO-va-ty
URاردو
تباہ کرنا
ta-BAAH kar-NA
VITiếng Việt
tàn phá
tan pha
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
In older and literary English, "ravage" and related forms were sometimes used metaphorically in contexts that blurred into sexual violence, often against women, reflecting a tendency to aestheticize or obscure gendered harm. Over time, usage shifted more toward general destruction, but traces of that history remain in some collocations.
Inclusive Usage
Avoid using "ravage" metaphorically for people’s bodies or appearance, especially women’s, as it can echo harmful tropes. Prefer clear, specific language for violence or damage.
Inclusive Alternatives
["devastate","severely damage","destroy","harm"]