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Definitions

lay waste

VERB
consume
Synonyms
STRONGEST
devastate eat up exhaust expend overwhelm ravage ruin waste
STRONG
annihilate crush decay demolish extinguish raze suppress wreck
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build construct create help save
STRONG
encourage let go release repair
WEAK
accumulate collect fast gather neglect not use starve store
VERB
desolate
Synonyms
STRONG
depopulate desecrate despoil devastate devour pillage plunder ruin sack waste
WEAK
depredate lay low spoliate
Antonyms
STRONG
build construct improve protect save
VERB
destroy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
consume crush damage dismantle end eradicate gut impair kill maim ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter smash smash-up wipe out wreck
STRONG
abort annihilate annul axe butcher cream deface desolate despoil dispatch erase exterminate extinguish extirpate level liquidate mar maraud mutilate nuke nullify overturn quash quell ravish slay suppress torpedo total trash vaporize waste wax zap
WEAK
blot out break down snuff out spoliate stamp out swallow up tear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist bear begin build construct create fix give birth help lose mend repair start
STRONG
improve keep preserve retain save validate
WEAK
restore
VERB
devastate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ravage raze ruin wreck
STRONG
desecrate desolate despoil devour level pillage plunder raid sack smash spoil total trash waste
WEAK
depredate do one in spoliate stamp out take apart wipe off map
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build construct
STRONG
guard help improve protect save
WEAK
enrich
VERB
harry
Synonyms
STRONG
attack badger bedevil beleaguer chivy devastate disturb fret gnaw harass hassle irk irritate molest persecute perturb pillage plague plunder ravage sack tease torment trouble upset vex worry
WEAK
depredate
Antonyms
STRONG
aid appease assist calm comfort delight guard help make happy order pacify please protect reassure soothe support
VERB
pauperize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bankrupt impoverish ruin
STRONG
beggar break bust deplete drain exhaust fleece injure reduce wreck
WEAK
bring down bring to ruin clean out depredate pillage spoliate use up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
enrich make rich
STRONG
better oneself feather one's nest move up in the world profit
WEAK
aid avail benefit help serve
VERB
pillage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
desecrate loot maraud pilfer ransack ravage
STRONG
appropriate arrogate confiscate desolate despoil devastate devour gut invade lift nab pinch purloin raid rifle rob ruin sack spoil steal strip thieve trespass waste
WEAK
depredate spoliate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give receive
STRONG
build construct create grow guard help improve offer protect release save
WEAK
safeguard
VERB
plunder
Synonyms
STRONGEST
devastate liberate loot pillage ransack requisition rob salvage
STRONG
appropriate burn despoil fleece forage foray grab gut kip lift loft maraud prey prowl raid relieve rifle sack snatch spoil strip
WEAK
depredate knock off knock over moonlight requisition rip off smash and grab stick up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give
STRONG
aid guard help protect receive
VERB
ransack
Synonyms
STRONGEST
comb gut loot pillage plunder raid rob scour seize take away
STRONG
appropriate despoil explore ferret filch hunt investigate lift maraud overhaul peer pilfer pinch poach probe pry purloin rake rape ravish rifle rummage rustle sack scan scrutinize search seek sound spoil spy steal strip thieve
WEAK
go over with a fine-tooth comb go through leave no stone unturned look all over for look high and low look into make off with shake down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give offer protect receive
STRONG
find ignore neglect order organize
WEAK
care for clean neaten tidy
VERB
ravage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
consume damage demolish devastate disrupt gut impair overrun overwhelm pillage plunder raze ruin shatter sweep away wreck
STRONG
annihilate capture cream crush desecrate desolate despoil dismantle disorganize exterminate extinguish forage foray harry loot overthrow pirate prey prostrate raid rape rob sack seize sink smash spoil strip total trample trash waste wrest
WEAK
break up leave in ruins pull down spoliate stamp out wreak havoc
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist build construct create fix help improve mend repair
STRONG
bear free give grow guard let go liberate lose offer praise preserve protect release save surrender yield
VERB
ruin
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bankrupt crush decimate demolish deplete exhaust impoverish injure mar overwhelm raze shatter spoil wipe out wrack wreck
STRONG
beggar botch break bust deface defeat defile deplore desecrate despoil devour dilapidate disfigure drain fleece maim mangle mutilate overthrow overturn pauperize pillage rape ravish reduce sack smash total
WEAK
bring down bring to ruin clean out depredate do in make a mess of spoliate use up wreak havoc on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build construct create fix heal mend repair
STRONG
adorn beautify cure protect strengthen
WEAK
develop grow
VERB
sack
Synonyms
STRONGEST
loot strip
STRONG
demolish desecrate desolate despoil destroy devastate devour fleece gut maraud pillage ravage rifle rob ruin spoil waste
WEAK
depredate spoliate
Antonyms
STRONG
build construct create give grow help improve offer protect repair restore
WEAK
employ guard hire save
VERB
smash
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break up demolish disrupt overturn raze shatter topple trash wreck
STRONG
annihilate decimate destruct overthrow ruin tumble
WEAK
lay in ruins put out of action put out of commission tear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build construct fix repair
WEAK
fail lose mend
VERB
spoliate
Synonyms
WEAK
demolish depredate desecrate desolate despoil destroy devastate devour fleece gut loot maraud pillage plunder ransack rape ravage rifle rob ruin spoil strip waste wreak havoc wreak havoc on
VERB
waste
Synonyms
STRONGEST
reduce spoil
STRONG
desecrate desolate despoil devastate devour pillage rape ravage raze sack
WEAK
depredate spoliate wreak havoc
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow
STRONG
build construct help improve protect
WEAK
create hoard preserve save
VERB
wreak havoc
Synonyms
WEAK
create chaos desolate despoil destroy devastate play mischief with ravage ruin wreck

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nick Cage wrote: “Hopefulness is not a neutral position.... It is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2025

Mr. Algrai is among dozens of Sudanese artists and curators who have fled their studios and galleries as two warring generals lay waste to one of Africa’s largest and most geopolitically important nations.

From New York Times • May 28, 2023

All that can contaminate water and soil, not to mention lay waste to large tracts of land.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2022

That way lies the madness of the Alpha Couple, willing to lay waste to everything in the name of true love.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2021

That fascination has infested me today like the wood-eating bugs that slowly lay waste to our house.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman