What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reive
Example
The Vikings used to reive the coastal towns in England. [reive: verb]
Example
The bandits reived the village, taking all the valuables they could find. [reiving: gerund or present participle]
ravage
Example
The hurricane ravaged the coastal town, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. [ravaged: past tense]
Example
The invading army ravaged the countryside, burning and pillaging everything in their path. [ravaging: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ravage is more commonly used than reive in everyday language. Ravage is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reive is less common and may be unfamiliar to some English speakers.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reive and ravage?
Both reive and ravage are relatively formal words and may not be used in everyday conversation. However, ravage may be more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
