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Destroy vs Lay_waste - What's the difference?

destroy | lay_waste | Synonyms |

Destroy is a synonym of lay_waste.


In lang=en terms the difference between destroy and lay_waste

is that destroy is to put down or euthanize while lay_waste is to completely destroy, especially of a geographical area or region.

As verbs the difference between destroy and lay_waste

is that destroy is
to damage beyond use or repair
while lay_waste is to completely destroy, especially of a geographical area or region.

destroy

English

Verb

  • To damage beyond use or repair.
  • The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
  • To cause destruction.
  • ''Hooligans destroy unprovoked
  • To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
  • ''Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate
  • To put down or euthanize.
  • Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
  • (colloquial) To defeat soundly.
  • (computing) To remove data.
  • The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.

    Synonyms

    * annihilate * break * demolish * kill * ruin * waste * See also

    Antonyms

    * build * construct * create * make * raise * repair

    Derived terms

    * destroyable * destroyer * destroyer escort * destroying angel

    lay_waste

    English

    Verb

  • To completely destroy, especially of a geographical area or region.
  • * 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 16:
  • Thirsting for revenge, his troops stormed the fortress of Kazan on the upper Volga in 1553, slaughtering the defenders just as the Mongols had done when they laid waste Russia's great cities.

    Usage notes

    Sometimes takes "to" instead of being simply transitive. Thus, "...they laid waste to Russia's great cities" would be an acceptable alternative to the quote above.