What is another word for leaving ruins?
Pronunciation: [lˈiːvɪŋ ɹˈuːɪnz] (IPA) 
When we think of the phrase "leaving ruins," we may imagine the aftermath of war or natural disaster. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to describe this kind of destruction. Desolate and devastated refer to lands that have been left barren and lifeless. Ruination and wreckage indicate the damage caused by an event or force. Abandoned or deserted exude a sense of abandonment rather than destruction. Lastly, decimation and annihilation suggest complete destruction to the point of extinction. All of these words encapsulate the aftermath of an event that has left a once-thriving environment in shambles.
