“Ravage” and “ravish” are often confused due to their similar sounds, but their meanings differ significantly. “Ravage” refers to destruction or devastation, while “ravish” can mean to carry off by force or overwhelm with emotion.
Ravage
Definition:
“Ravage” is a verb that means to severely damage, destroy, or devastate something.
Examples:
Fires continued to ravage the western states for many weeks.
The hurricane ravaged several coastal towns, leaving them in ruins.
The war ravaged the country, displacing millions of people.
Ravish
Definition:
“Ravish” is a verb that has two primary meanings: to carry off by force or to overwhelm with emotion, often associated with beauty or admiration.
Examples:
In the novel, the king’s daughter was ravished by her captors.
The beauty of the Canadian sunset ravished the travelers.
He was ravished by the sight of the breathtaking mountain range.
“Ravage” is used when talking about destruction or devastation, while “ravish” can refer to being taken by force or overwhelmed with emotion, often in admiration. The two words convey very different scenarios and should be used accordingly.
