Devastation in small community with new leader (7)
I believe the answer is:
pillage
'devastation' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pillage that I've seen before include "Plunder, sack" , "Loot" , "Violent stealing" , "Rob with violence" , "Sacking" .)