ravages

Noun

• (usually plural) a destructive action
  • "the ravages of time"
• plural of ravage
• Harsh damage.

Verb

• make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes
• cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
• third-person singular simple present indicative of ravage

Examples

• The ravages of war decimated the country: death, destruction and pestilence resulted from the bombings.

Synonyms

depredation, desolate, devastate, harry, lay waste to, ravage, scourge, waste