Vocabulary·rampage

A rampage is when a group of people is destructive and out of control, like an angry, violent riot following an unpopular political decision.

A single individual can go on a rampage, wreaking havoc and destruction, but the word most often describes the actions of an angry mob. You can also use rampage as a verb, as when furious football fans rampage through a town overturning cars and setting things on fire. The word was originally Scottish, from the Middle English ramp, "rave or rush wildly about."

The water was the only place safe from the rampaging fire.

Although we had left shortly after noon, word came that the mob continued its rampage.

Grandma went on one of her worst rampages to date.

The rampage continued as the Storm Troopers and SS stormed the synagogue.

The day after that, Goddard took his junior scythes and Rowan on a gleaning rampage, fueled by his fury.

And there he was like a freight train on the loose, out of control, rampaging wildly, trying to careen toward Guilmet but too late, too late.

He was still determined to capture Benedict Arnold, whose Loyalists were on a rampage in Virginia, looting Richmond and raiding communities where Patriot supplies were stored.

I had often seen the impis who lived in the compound go on a rampage with knobkerries and spears.