1
as in to demolish
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
an entire city block razed by a terrible fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces
the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of raze
Because the Jeserich building is in such precarious condition, and close to the new streetcar stop, special care will be needed to take it down, working brick-by-brick in the building’s interior before it can be razed.
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Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
The British music producer, known professionally as Alex Da Kid, then razed the abode and built a sleek new mansion in its place.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2025
The first place most tourists will visit is the Old Town, which was almost completely razed in the aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
—Teddy Minford, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025
The old train station’s original fate was for it to be razed and a hotel built in its place.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for raze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raze
Verb
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It is designed to mirror the East Wing addition after the previous building was demolished last year.—
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In order to do so, the city has to acquire the land and purchase the properties — valued at $22 million total — and demolish them, causing several businesses to close or relocate to make way for the project.—
Verb
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
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In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Verb
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Even though she was utterly devastated, a small part of her saw it as a kind of gift.—
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When the oily messenger arrives at the hotel, Lucy is confused and devastated.—
Verb
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There is a child whose happy world is shattered when his friends from Oz cannot make the leap into what people around him consider to be reality.—
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John Raoux / Associated Press The Jacksonville Jaguars lost a close wild-card playoff game at home Sunday to the Buffalo Bills, shattering their Super Bowl dreams.—
Verb
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Givaudan initiated the process to receive a wrecking permit in August and has been working over the past few months to get the proper approval from various agencies, including Louisville MSD and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.—
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The internet has the ability to create assassins and sway elections and destroy families, to waste our time and wreck our life.—
Verb
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Agents told investigators that one of their colleagues opened fire Thursday after the driver put the truck in reverse and repeatedly slammed into an unoccupied car the agents had rented, smashing its headlights and knocking off its front bumper.—
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Cite this Entry
“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raze. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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