ravish
verb
rav·ish ˈra-vish 
ravished; ravishing; ravishes
transitive verb
1
a
: to seize and take away by violence
b
: to overcome with emotion (such as joy or delight)
ravished by the scenic beauty
c
: rape entry 1 sense 1
2
: plunder, rob
ravisher noun
ravishment
ˈra-vish-mənt
noun 
Synonyms
- assault
- force
- rape
- violate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza
Recent Examples on the Web Caroline had seen fit to have her pony make the homeward trip with its hindquarters thrust into Delphine’s ravished clothes. 
Zora Neale Hurston, Harper's magazine, 6 Jan. 2020 Throwback romantics can be ravished by the unparalleled vocal stylings of Lalah Hathaway (Nov. 15, Sony Hall), and millennial audiences will find a patron saint in the unfeigned lyricism of Summer Walker (Dec. 7-8, Terminal 5). Briana Younger, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2019 There was surely formal kinship — ravishing color, gestural verve — and personal admiration. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2019 The choral music flips back and forth from the bamboo grove to the center of the atrium and to speakers installed on the baobab tree, creating sonic experiences of intimacy, grandeur and ravishing beauty. Steven Litt, cleveland.com, 11 Aug. 2019 Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era (A.D. 220-280), this action extravaganza ravishes the retina with only a narrow segment of spectrum. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 2 May 2019 French-Cuban twins Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz, also known as polystylistic R&B duo Ibeyi, masterfully transform firsthand experiences and thoughts into something universal on their ravishing second album, Ash (XL). Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader, 2 Nov. 2017 See More
Zora Neale Hurston, Harper's magazine, 6 Jan. 2020 Throwback romantics can be ravished by the unparalleled vocal stylings of Lalah Hathaway (Nov. 15, Sony Hall), and millennial audiences will find a patron saint in the unfeigned lyricism of Summer Walker (Dec. 7-8, Terminal 5). Briana Younger, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2019 There was surely formal kinship — ravishing color, gestural verve — and personal admiration. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2019 The choral music flips back and forth from the bamboo grove to the center of the atrium and to speakers installed on the baobab tree, creating sonic experiences of intimacy, grandeur and ravishing beauty. Steven Litt, cleveland.com, 11 Aug. 2019 Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era (A.D. 220-280), this action extravaganza ravishes the retina with only a narrow segment of spectrum. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 2 May 2019 French-Cuban twins Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz, also known as polystylistic R&B duo Ibeyi, masterfully transform firsthand experiences and thoughts into something universal on their ravishing second album, Ash (XL). Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader, 2 Nov. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English ravisshen "to seize forcefully, plunder, carry away, carry off (a woman) in order to sexually assault her, seize as prey, carry up (into heaven), enrapture, sweep along," borrowed from Anglo-French raviss-, stem of ravir (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Vulgar Latin *rapīre, re-formation of Latin rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry off a woman with the intent of sexually assaulting her, carry or sweep along, impel forcibly (to a course of conduct), snatch up, gather quickly" — more at rapid entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
ravish
verb
rav·ish ˈra-vish
ravished; ravishing
1
: to seize and take away by force
2
: to fill with joy or delight
Legal Definition
ravish
transitive verb
rav·ish ˈra-vish
: rape
ravished 1 of 2
adjective
as in enraptured
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enraptured
- overjoyed
- ecstatic
- exhilarated
- delighted
- rapturous
- tickled
- elated
- entranced
- blessed
- thrilled
- exultant
- joyous
- blissful
- joyful
- jubilant
- exuberant
- euphoric
- merry
- gleeful
- gladsome
- radiant
- amused
- happy
- laughing
- mirthful
- jocund
- jolly
- smiling
- giggling
- jovial
- blest
- festive
- blithesome
- jocose
- beaming
- blithe
- sunny
- chuckling
- cheerful
- jocular
- high
- frisky
- carefree
- gay
- vivacious
- spirited
- cheery
- perky
- buoyant
- upbeat
- lightsome
- sprightly
- lighthearted
- unconcerned
- amusing
- playful
- animated
- hilarious
- bouncing
- witty
- joking
- chipper
- funny
- lively
- sprightful
- frolicsome
- peppy
- sportive
- flippant
- rosy
- jaunty
- jesting
- bright
- optimistic
- cavalier
- insouciant
- zippy
- hopeful
- riotous
- facetious
- easygoing
- joshing
- sanguine
- uproarious
- farcical
- comic
- antic
- humorous
- happy-go-lucky
- comical
- devil-may-care
- sidesplitting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unhappy
- forlorn
- anguished
- sad
- sorrowful
- dispirited
- aggrieved
- dejected
- heartbroken
- abject
- heartsick
- disconsolate
- depressed
- crestfallen
- crying
- brokenhearted
- melancholy
- saddened
- downcast
- blue
- despondent
- glum
- disheartened
- wailing
- weeping
- downhearted
- sobbing
- discontented
- disgruntled
- doleful
- desolate
- mournful
- moody
- woeful
- dark
- heavyhearted
- low-spirited
- groaning
- sorry
- dolorous
- gloomy
- wretched
- joyless
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- cheerless
- moaning
- sullen
- dismal
- dreary
- bleak
- miserable
- somber
- gray
- comfortless
- lachrymose
- woebegone
- grey
- sombre
- glum
- morose
- saturnine
- depressing
- dull
- sluggish
- listless
- torpid
- lethargic
ravished
2 of 2verb
1
as in raped
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
- raped
- violated
- assaulted
- forced
- molested
- deflowered
- pawed
- defiled
- date raped
- gang raped
2
as in delighted
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
- delighted
- enraptured
- entranced
- fascinated
- pleased
- transported
- enchanted
- satisfied
- raptured
- enthralled
- rapped
- carried away
- gladdened
- knocked dead
- charmed
- captivated
- bewitched
- gratified
- excited
- knocked one's socks off
- elated
- stirred
- exhilarated
- tight end
- tight finish
- tight joint
- tight sap
- tight schedule
- tight scrummage
- tight ship
- tight side
- tight squeeze
- tight-ass
- tight-assed
- tight-cut
- tight-knit
- tight-laced
- tight-leg
- tight-lipped
- tight-locked
- tight-mouthed
- tighten
- tighten one's belt
- tighten the noose
- tighten the purse strings
- tighten the screws
- tighten the thumbscrews on
- tighten up