laid waste
Ruined beyond repair
Laid waste means destroyed or devastated, leaving ruin behind.
The phrase typically describes large-scale destruction of places—cities, landscapes, civilizations: Invading armies laid waste to the countryside.
It can extend to anything thoroughly ruined: The scandal laid waste to his reputation.
The present tense is lay waste to.
- devastatedOverwhelmed by grief
- ravagedSeverely damaged or destroyed
- ruinedDamaged beyond recovery
- destroyedMade to cease existing
- total warConflict engaging entire nations
left in ruins · scorched earth · sacking · razed · ground zero · siege · decimation · destruction · shock and awe · bombardment · war torn · desolation · demolished · reduced to rubble · pillaging · genocide · despoiled · annihilation
- destroyeddestroyed, demolished, annihilated, obliterated, decimated
laid wastepreserved
Kept from deterioration
spared · protected · safeguarded · conserved · defended
laid wastebuilt up
Increased through accumulation
constructed · erected · established · developed · cultivated
laid wasterestored
Returned to original condition
rebuilt · rehabilitated · renovated · renewed · rejuvenated
waste, layer, wasted, wasteful, desolate, layers, laying, laid, wasting