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razed

razed

6.7
Destroyed completely so nothing is left standing
  • adjective
  • /reɪzd/
translation icon : arrasado
  • Some of the houses were literally razed to the ground.

Examples

  • The old factory was razed to make way for a new shopping center in the neighborhood.

  • One of the greatest cities in Italy is plundered and razed to the ground.

  • One of the greatest cities in Italy is plundered and razed to the ground.

  • After the earthquake, many buildings were razed to the ground, leaving the streets empty.

  • During the war, several historical landmarks were tragically razed and lost forever.

Synonyms

left in ruins
vsrazed
2 5.3

Badly damaged or destroyed, like a building after a disaster

is full removal to ground level rather than damage that leaves structures
demolished
vsrazed
4.1

A building that has been torn down and broken up

is total removal down to ground level rather than partial damage
obliterated
vsrazed
6.5

Completely destroyed so nothing is left

is total destruction but can leave rubble or traces rather than nothing
dismantled
vsrazed
4.7

Taken apart so it no longer works as a whole

is destroyed by removal through breaking to ground rather than careful disassembly

Antonyms

1.0

Upright on the feet rather than sitting or lying

How Destroyed

razed
6.7
destroyed
2.8
damaged
1 1.1
intact
304 3.7

Surface Forms

razed positive

Morphology

razed = raze (transparent) = raze + ed

Standard past-participle/adjectival formation from the verb 'raze' yields the meaning 'destroyed', which is directly predictable.

Etymology

Razed comes from an old word that meant 'to scrape' or 'to shave'. Think of a razor shaving a building down to the ground, so a razed building has been completely destroyed or 'shaved' flat.