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

The Idaho Statesman reported in 2019 that a developer had plans to raze the store and build a large multifamily apartment and retail complex in its place, which would have involved redeveloping the Big O Tires shop that sits on the same lot. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026

In 2020, the utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a transmission-line failure caused the deadly 2018 Camp Fire that razed Paradise in Butte County. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026

An entire neighborhood was razed to make it for the 1950 Jubilee. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026

Because the Jeserich building is in such precarious condition, and close to the new streetcar stop, special care will be needed to take it down, working brick-by-brick in the building’s interior before it can be razed. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 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