lay waste

USAGE SUMMARY

"lay waste" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean to destroy something, particularly by means of violence (e.g. an invading army laying waste to a city). For example, you could say: "The army laid waste to the city, leaving nothing but rubble and ruins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet we lay waste to the accessible portion.

The Guardian - Opinion

They quite simply lay waste to everything in their path.

The Guardian - Opinion

The tragedy of so many lives lay waste.

The Guardian

DOES the cold lay waste to your soul?

The New York Times

Cloud taunts us: "Man, she's gonna lay waste.

The New York Times - Magazine

To "depredate" means "to lay waste: plunder, ravage," according to Webster's.

The New Yorker

Thomas is happy to lay waste to decades, even centuries, of constitutional law.

The New Yorker

The digital video recorder was supposed to lay waste to network television.

The New York Times

The governor decided after careful deliberation to lay waste to Mr. Sweeney's proposed budget.

The New York Times

The Suebi and the Asding Vandals meanwhile continued to lay waste to Spain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For those who mock, lay waste and fight For those who would put out the light.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lay waste" to emphasize the thoroughness and severity of destruction, particularly when referring to geographical areas, institutions, or abstract concepts.

Common error

Avoid using "lay waste" for minor damage or setbacks. It is best reserved for situations involving widespread devastation and ruin.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay waste" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It's used to describe the action of completely destroying or devastating something. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase effectively conveys a sense of total destruction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lay waste" is a powerful verb phrase used to describe complete and devastating destruction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "devastate" or "destroy completely" exist, "lay waste" often emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of the damage. It's crucial to reserve this phrase for appropriate situations involving widespread ruin. Remember to use the correct tense (laying or laid) depending on the context. Overall, "lay waste" is a valuable tool for writers aiming to convey a sense of total destruction in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastate

Single word expressing similar meaning of causing widespread destruction.

destroy completely

More explicit about the totality of the destruction.

ravage

Focuses on the violent and damaging nature of the destruction.

annihilate

Implies complete obliteration.

wipe out

Suggests removing something entirely.

demolish

Suggests a forceful destruction, often of structures.

ruin

Implies a state of decay or destruction after an event.

obliterate

Focuses on the complete removal of traces.

decimate

Originally referred to killing one in ten, now means severely reduce or destroy.

desolate

Describes the state of being empty and barren after destruction.

FAQs

How is "lay waste" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "lay waste" is usually followed by the object that is being destroyed. For example, "The invaders "laid waste" to the countryside."

What are some alternatives to "lay waste"?

You can use alternatives like "devastate", "destroy completely", or "ravage" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "laying waste" or "laid waste"?

"Laying waste" is the present participle form, while ""laid waste"" is the past tense and past participle. The correct form depends on the tense of your sentence.

What's the difference between "lay waste" and "wreak havoc"?

"Lay waste" implies a more complete and devastating destruction, often of a physical area. "Wreak havoc" suggests widespread disorder and disruption, but not necessarily total annihilation.