raze

verb

ˈrāz How to pronounce raze (audio)
Definition of razenext
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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of raze In the same cul-de-sac, at least six houses were razed, while others appeared to stand unscathed, including the house next to Angela’s. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026 Sacks, the financier who owned the parcel before al-Fayed, razed all but the sculpture studio, pool, and tennis court to prop up a grander residence than the one the Sound of Music star called home. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026 In 2017, De Niro filed an application to have the existing structure razed to build a larger home, but his request was ultimately denied. — Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026 By the late 1980s, McAuley’s days clearly were numbered, as the DuPage County Airport Authority, in the midst of a major expansion, began buying and razing most of the remaining homes in the McAuley district. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for raze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raze
  1. demolish
  2. destroy
  3. ruin
  4. shatter
  5. devastate
Verb
  • Later demolished, the home sat directly across the street from a far more modern residence by a designer with ties to the Tao restaurant chain and the Venetian Las Vegas.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That then will allow the existing Willowcreek Middle School to be demolished.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In Solomianskyi district, the top two floors of a 9-story residential building were destroyed and fires broke out on other floors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Shane loves Ilya, but fears going public will ruin their careers.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Windows were shattered at a children’s hospital in the Solomianskyi district, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • That was a cool metaphor of wanting each one of them to shatter a glass ceiling of sorts.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • DeLind said that his former business partner, who passed away in February, had been devastated by the theft.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • His city had been the epicenter of the worst American riot in generations, and his country had thrown its support behind Israel, helping to devastate parts of his ancestral home.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastate

Browse Nearby Words

rays
raze
razed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raze. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All