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

The community is intended to honor Brooklyn, once a prosperous Black neighborhood that was razed as part of urban renewal in the 1960s and '70s. —Alexandria Sands, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

The project is being built on the site of a former church that was razed for the redevelopment. —Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024

The Israeli army released a video showing blasts ripping through the village in the Marjayoun province, razing dozens of homes to dust. —Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Leland will be on on property that, until recently, housed a retirement home whose residents have been relocated, an auto repair shop that moved nearby, and a windshield repair and replacement shop that has just been razed. —Shonda Novak, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Nov. 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