1. 
[syn: ravaging, devastation]
ADJECTIVE (1)
1.  ruinously destructive and wasting; 
- Example: "a ravaging illness"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ravage \Rav"age\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravaged
   (r[a^]v"[asl]jd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging
   (r[a^]v"[asl]*j[i^]ng).] [F. ravager. See Ravage, n.]
   To lay waste by force; to desolate by violence; to commit
   havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume.
   [1913 Webster]
         Already Caesar
         Has ravaged more than half the globe.    --Addison.
   [1913 Webster]
         His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven away.
                                                  --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]
   Syn: To despoil; pillage; plunder; sack; spoil; devastate;
        desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.
        [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ravaging
    adj 1: ruinously destructive and wasting; "a ravaging illness"
    n 1: plundering with excessive damage and destruction [syn:
         ravaging, devastation]