What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pillage vs Lay_waste - What's the difference?

pillage | lay_waste | Related terms |

Pillage is a related term of lay_waste.


As verbs the difference between pillage and lay_waste

is that pillage is (ambitransitive) to loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war while lay_waste is to completely destroy, especially of a geographical area or region.

As a noun pillage

is the spoils of war.

pillage

English

Verb

(pillag)
  • (ambitransitive) To loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war.
  • * 1911 , ,
    • Archibald V. (1361-1397) was Count of Perigord. He was nominally under the lilies [France], but he pillaged indiscriminately in his county.

    Noun

    (-)
  • The spoils of war.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Which pillage they with merry march bring home.
  • The act of pillaging.

    • Noun

    (m)
  • looting

    • Related terms

    * ----

    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.