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

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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

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 The main home was razed after a 1925 earthquake, and the estate was later subdivided into 34 parcels. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026 Aside from a 2015 20th anniversary gig at (ready-to-be-razed) RFK Stadium, the Foos have mostly hit arenas and intimate specialty shows in the area. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 The queen is hysterical when Orwyle informs her that Sunfyre has razed the Mooton army outside Maidenpool. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 In March, Nebraska’s Morrill Fire tore through 642,000 acres to become the largest in state history, killing one person and razing vast stretches of cattle country. — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for raze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raze
  1. demolish
  2. destroy
  3. ruin
  4. shatter
  5. devastate
Verb
  • Smashing the grid of the encyclopedic museum has meant that Govan literally had to demolish the institution’s former structures.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Now it will be demolished and replaced as part of a $250 million sports complex project.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • In 2025, Ukraine smuggled over 100 drones into Russia inside cargo trucks to conduct strikes that damaged or destroyed roughly one-third of Russia’s active bomber fleet and caused approximately $7 billion in damages.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some 36,000 houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, and more than 2,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, including school gymnasiums and community centers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • The fight between a small Georgia community and tech giant Meta has escalated this week after four families filed a lawsuit against the company alleging a central Georgia data center project has contaminated their water and ruined their home values.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Gen, forgetting her swollen wrist, perks up at the thought of having a new person to ruin sheets with.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Both Russia and China have tested missiles that destroy satellites; a Russian test in 2021 shattered an inactive satellite into more than a thousand pieces.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • Rescue crews and foreign specialists are racing to find scores of workers feared trapped alive inside hydropower tunnels in Nepal, after thick mud buried the facilities during last week’s devastating flash floods.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Travelers hoping to visit the Grand Canyon in coming days may want to adjust their plans after devastating flash flooding that has left at least two people dead and more than a dozen others missing.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastate

Browse Nearby Words

rays
raze
razed
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Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raze. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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