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

Many of the palm groves that gave the oasis city its name were razed by the Assad regime and its allies to eliminate cover for opposition fighters. —Jane Arraf, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025

FilmLA also noted that the wildfires that razed the Pacific Palisades and Altadena had a minimal impact on production. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2025

The city condemned the building and the church asked the Historic Preservation Commission in February for the go-ahead to raze it. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025

One of the oldest Black churches in the Charlotte area is scheduled to be razed, but local preservation organizations are hoping to save the structure from demolition. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of rase

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for raze

• baize
• bays
• blase
• blaze
• braes
• braze
• chaise
• claes
• clays
• craze
• dais
• days

Kids Definition

raze

verb

ˈrāz 

razed; razing

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

razed the building