ravaging

from 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}]

from 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]