Definition of ravishnext
1
as in to delight
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to violate
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ravish Returning to the Bay Area in this ravishing way after more than 30 years is a reminder that this Phantom hasn’t yet lost its bite. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 1 June 2026 Del Toro’s dark, ravishing fantasy set in Francoist Spain — which had taken years to finance and produce, endured a brutal production and emerged from post barely in time — was the last film to screen in competition at that year’s festival. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 From there, the scene jumps to Milan, where Andy and Miranda are seen attending myriad fashion shows and wearing a series of ravishing getups, all soundtracked once again by Madonna’s 1990 hit. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026 However, her origin myth, in which she was hatched from an egg laid by her mother, Leda, who had been ravished by Zeus in the guise of a swan, is plainly invention. Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ravish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravish
Verb
  • Each piece is a little bit of the earth itself, molded to a shape that fits easily in the hand, baked to achieve permanence and then stacked, one atop another, to form a wall that can enclose, shelter and delight us.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Always popular, coral bells delight with bright blooms and fast-growing leaves that hide fading bulbs.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In its March 9 lawsuit, Anthropic alleged the government violated its right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution by retaliating against its views on AI safety.
    Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The administration is appealing a June ruling by a lower court that the ban probably violated the troops’ constitutional rights and cannot be enforced against those currently serving while the litigation continues.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Investor-pleasing language can substitute for a distinctive customer system.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The trust’s president and CEO, Brent Leggs, said the group was disappointed with the decision but pleased with Roberts’ dissent.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And the noise that this is making is something that is a cacophony of the world enraptured.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • The world was enraptured by Kennedy and Bessette (portrayed on the series by Sarah Pidgeon), who were constantly trailed by the paparazzi and scrutinized by the tabloid media.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • QAnon haunts Washington I’m particularly fascinated by the ghost of QAnon – how the theory continues to haunt politics today.
    Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Two exes alleged Watts blew past their boundaries to satisfy his own needs.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But this does not eliminate whether Walter will eventually need to sell his sports assets to satisfy lenders, regulators or investors.
    Joshua Hong, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Pop music is enchanted with electric guitar this year between the Charli XCX and Olivia Rodrigo rock albums.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • At first spritz, you’re instantly enchanted and uplifted by sparkling, tart notes of pomelo and yuzu.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Lane’s acrobatic and seemingly effortless catches have enthralled a fan base obsessed with the idea of a dynamic homegrown receiving corps.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • He was mesmerized by the whirlpool, enthralled by the cyclops scene, dazzled at Circe’s transfigurative powers.
    Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ravish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravish. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster