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 of raze

• demolish
• destroy
• ruin
• devastate
• shatter
• wreck
• smash

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

Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz said the department worked with the homeowner and the village’s Community Development Department to gain approval to use the property for training purposes before it is razed for new construction. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Edelson’s team told Ars that the school has shut down and will soon be razed. —Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026

Planners razed coconut plantations, sketched marina slips and golf courses, and ordained where tourists would sleep, eat, and jet ski. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

In June 2024, it was officially named a cultural-historic landmark, preventing Milstein and Bank from razing it. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026

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