raze

verb

ˈrāz 

razed; razing

transitive verb

1

: to destroy to the ground : demolish

raze an old building

2

a

: to scrape, cut, or shave off

b

archaic : erase

razer noun

Synonyms

• annihilate
• cream
• decimate
• demolish
• desolate
• destroy
• devastate
• do in
• extinguish
• nuke
• pull down
• pulverize
• rub out
• ruin
• shatter
• smash
• tear down
• total
• vaporize
• waste
• wrack
• wreck

Examples of raze in a Sentence

an entire city block razed by a terrible fire

the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex

Recent Examples on the Web

Dood said all of that was razed and the site was hydroseeded. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 15 June 2024

The project involved razing a former indoor power center mall and replacing it with a wide mix of uses, primarily residential apartments with other components like offices, restaurants, stores and entertainment. —Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 13 June 2024

Image The tinderbox conditions also raised concerns about wildfires after a disastrous summer last year, when wildfires killed more than 20 people in Greece and razed vast areas of forestland. —Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 12 June 2024

It’ll likely be razed as Jobs continues building her compound. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of rase

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

raze

verb

ˈrāz 

razed; razing

: to destroy completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces : demolish

razed the building