Definition of edificenext
1
as in tower
a large, magnificent, or massive building the U.S. Capitol is one of our nation's most impressive edifices

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2
as in building
something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity the first edifices built by the colonists were primitive huts with walls of dried mud and roofs covered with thatch

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3
as in structure
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form the edifice of the argument is quite simple, once you get past the fancy language

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of edifice In Lemann’s books, as in Joan Didion’s, the whole edifice is always beginning to crumble. Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 The store, a block-long edifice along Commerce Street with an in-house Starbucks coffeehouse and a movie theater around the corner, drew shoppers to whom the retailer had imparted happy memories. Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026 Leaning against the brick edifice of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on the cast-iron corridor of West Main is a massive 120-foot-high steel replica of Babe Ruth's original Louisville Slugger bat. Adam Sachs, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026 There’s little danger, in other words, that the whole edifice of math could come crashing down. Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for edifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edifice
Noun
  • Within minutes, the first officer contacted the Miami tower and requested a return to the airport.
    Hank Tester, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • In 2024 the Italian brand unveiled the creation of two luxury penthouses crowning the sculptural Jem Private Residences tower in Miami, which marks developer Naftali Group’s debut property in the city.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • The serac is part of the Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and huge pieces of overhanging ice that can be as big as a 10-story building.
    Pasang Rinzee Sherpa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • The hotel sits within the historic First Residence building complex, which occupies a stretch of riverfront land next to the Giza Zoo.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Designed by architects Jørgen Bo and Wilhlem Wohlert, the structure, on the grounds of an old villa, is as much a celebration of the outdoors as the art inside.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Balance kindness with structure, and accountability follows.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • As with a cathedral, a basilica may be a relatively humble edifice, though many are spectacular buildings.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 May 2026
  • Originally built as a private mansion in the 1920s on one of the city’s major avenues, just moments away from the city’s Gothic cathedral and Picasso Museum, the hotel was given a deluxe makeover in 2024.
    Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • The architecture of the subterranean pathways that funnel magma to the surface, the chemistry of the magma, the cadence of eruptions, and the assortment of eruption styles differ from place to place.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
  • For a certain kind of traveler—the one who plans their Coachella itinerary around gallery hours, or lingers on the architecture walking tour long after the rest of the group has moved on—Palm Springs is less a vacation destination and more a recurring obsession.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Gas and oil prices are marginally down amid expectations Iran will respond to Trump’s framework soon.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 10 May 2026
  • Her book outlines what leading the mission taught her about creating successful teams—and provides a framework for others to develop their leadership skills.
    K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edifice. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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