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
• shatter
• devastate

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

All proceeds were donated to locals affected by the bushfires that had razed the area, on multiple occasions. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2026

Discordant keys fly like daggers while snares trip over bass thuds; there’s a jazzy piano interlude, and then a murderous hard-rock siege razes the mix to the ground. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026

The decision is a good reuse of a property that city police were called to numerous times until the once-grand motel was razed. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Most of the complex's buildings were razed in the 1980s, but a five-story, red-brick structure that came to be known as the Kay Beard Building still stands and is home to Eloise Asylum. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 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