to raze
- verb
- /reɪz/
- The workers will raze the old building to make way for a new shopping center.
- razed city
- razed house
- razed buildings
Examples
-
I am told not a single creature survived the blaze that razed the building.
Fiction book (1992) -
Archaeologist Anne Raab believes the house was razed by Union troops in 1863.
Academic text (2010) -
Which is why, as I have done many times before, I'm going to have to raze it all and start again.
-
I saw it razed to the ground five days ago.
-
And when you razed Athens, you set fire to the only thing of value in this country.
-
Because these church buildings are protected by law, they cannot be razed, and in many countries must be maintained.
Academic text (2008) -
They'll take only three days to raze the place, clear it out to make way for the temple ruins.
-
The lot would be worth far more after a buyer razed the ranch and replaced it with a new house.
Academic text (2007) -
Maia's parents were killed, her village razed, because of a border dispute over a line no government recognized.
Fiction book (2001) -
Over 600 acres of forest were razed and authorities have closed off the area to all hikers and picnickers.
Synonyms
Destroy something so nothing is left
To break rock or walls using explosives to make an opening
To destroy a building or other structure completely
To destroy a building or object completely by fire
To make land or a building flat with the ground
Knock down a building or other large structure completely
To destroy completely, often killing many people
Make a building or wall fall down suddenly
Completely destroy a building or large structure
To destroy a building so it is level with the ground
To burn things like documents or waste until they turn to ash
To destroy something completely, often using a nuclear bomb
To use a large pushing machine to flatten land or to remove things by force
To destroy something completely so nothing is left
To destroy a place and leave it ruined
To demolish a building so it is flat on the ground
To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water
To completely destroy a building so nothing remains above ground
To completely tear down a building or town so nothing is left
To clear land by knocking down buildings before building a house or shop
Antonyms
How Destroyed
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word raze comes from an old Latin verb radere meaning 'to scrape' or 'to shave', and it is related to the common English word razor that shaves things away. So to raze a building is like 'shaving' it down to the ground, which explains why it means to destroy something completely.