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
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Recent Examples of edifice
By packing the 20-year-old arena to the tune of 19,478 against the Heat, the Hornets tied the franchise’s single-season record for sellouts at the edifice at the corner of Trade and Caldwell with 16.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2026
And wherever general relativity is visible in the world, Farah says, there’s an opportunity to better understand it—and perhaps even to find new cracks in the edifice of Einstein’s greatest theory, from which fresh ideas could spring.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
America’s appreciation for the arts, this edifice announced, was responsible, mature.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The entire edifice of the American Revolution was built upon this premise.
—Sandeep Gopalan, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for edifice
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2026
And wherever general relativity is visible in the world, Farah says, there’s an opportunity to better understand it—and perhaps even to find new cracks in the edifice of Einstein’s greatest theory, from which fresh ideas could spring.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
America’s appreciation for the arts, this edifice announced, was responsible, mature.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The entire edifice of the American Revolution was built upon this premise.
—Sandeep Gopalan, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for edifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edifice
Noun
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The American Tower Corporation already has a communications tower on the property.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Trump plans a tower as tall or nearly as tall as anything around it in downtown Miami, overlooking Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many young people are transitioning out of school, starting careers and building independence, while still developing the coping skills needed to navigate major health challenges.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The centerpiece of the expansion, which was led by the architects Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, in collaboration with the firm Cooper Robertson, is an atrium that snaps right onto the side of the flagship building.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The leader of the historic church in Downtown Dallas, Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress, vowed to rebuild the iconic structure.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Architecture like this, which reveals its structure while producing its effects, can make a museum feel slightly more humane.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His high school gym was not the massive cathedrals built to serve the altars of Hoosier hysteria, but with 4,620 seats, the Greenfield Cougar Den is no slouch, either.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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The problem is those cathedrals couldn’t move.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The area’s local dishes, traditions, materials and architecture take centre stage—a common theme across Zannier’s clutch of distinct properties.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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The mall, the boutique, the social architecture — that’s the antagonist.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Riki Parikh, policy director at the non-profit Alliance for Secure AI, said the framework isn't specific enough on issues such as the potential role of the technology in job replacement.—
Deepa Shivaram,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
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At least one of those facilitators is a licensed mental health practitioner, said Katz, who served on the board of the Oregon Psilocybin Training Alliance (OPTA) and on committees helping to shape the state’s framework, but does not have a therapeutic or medical background himself.—
Natalia V. Osipova,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edifice. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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