Synonyms

ravaged

American

[rav-ijd] / ˈræv ɪdʒd /

adjective

ruinously damaged or marred.

After the war they were faced with a ravaged landscape and a deeply scarred population.
Her heart contracted with pity when she saw the ravaged face and red, swollen eyes of her friend.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of ravage.

Other Word Forms

unravaged adjective

Etymology

Origin of ravaged

First recorded in 1650–60; ravage ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; ravage ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This week, as the crew of four astronauts lifted off to the moon for the first time in 54 years, they renewed the hopes of a ravaged nation.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

They have been ravaged by injury and suspensions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

Huntley said modular buildings are being built at the Thatcham nursery ravaged by the fire, which will have capacity for around 75 children.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

A Substack post imagining an economy ravaged by artificial intelligence disruption caused a stir on social media on Monday and dragged the indexes down with it.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

And, turning to me: “Now. Let us begin.” or the next several hours of that day I labored over a Greek legal dispute regarding the ownership of twenty-five oxen ravaged by the mange.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023