What is the meaning of ravaging?

noun

• Plundering with excessive damage and destruction.
  • synonyms: devastation

verb

• Make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes.
  • synonyms: harry, ravage
• Cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly.
  • usage: "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion"
  • synonyms: lay waste to, waste, devastate, desolate, ravage, scourge

adjective

• Ruinously destructive and wasting.
  • usage: "a ravaging illness"