lay waste

The phrase "lay waste" is often used to describe thorough and violent destruction, typically of geographical areas.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

C1General

(transitive, formal)To cause extensive and thorough destruction, often leaving nothing usable.

Example

The invading army laid waste to the entire region.
Natural disasters can lay waste to vast areas in a short amount of time.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "lay waste":

lay about lay into lay over lay by lay on lay out lay open lay in lay down lay to lay figure lay away lay to rest lie around lay siege laid up lay bare lie over lay aside lay of the land lie down lie in the way lay up lie in