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 The 1963 demolition of the original Penn Station, one of the great 20th century American edifices, was a ghastly mistake that New York has lived with and tried to correct for six decades. Andy Byford, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026 Internal balconies were illuminated by faint blue lights in constellation displays, half-hidden among the foliage to create an illusion of the external edifice of some tropical villa. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 The rest of the album splits the difference between this newfound scrappiness and the skyscraping edifices Madeon built his name on. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 Can that gratification be found in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others? Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for edifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edifice
Noun
  • Reaching it means climbing down the tower steps and padding past other guests’s doors late at night.
    Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The tower would be built on a two-acre portion of the site that includes the church’s parking lot.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Naturally, their experiences heavily shaped the hotel’s aesthetic, bringing layers of Tibetan, Persian, Indian, and Uzbek influences into the centuries-old adobe buildings.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Firefighters struggled to reach people trapped on the upper floors as thick smoke engulfed the building, a police officer told the news agency.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The article also called for detailed mobilization plans covering command structures, communications and procedures for dealing with unexpected situations.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As the hurricane approached, shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures rather than structures that might collapse.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Enclosed by a network of 13th-century walls, the narrow streets of old York host myriad awe-inspiring relics from its pre-industrial past, perhaps the most famous being York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals anywhere.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The fire was catastrophic, but the heat stopped short of the full depth, even in vaults – the arched stone ceilings of the cathedral – only about 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 centimeters) thick.
    Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The renovation was carried out by Vestige Estudio, the hotel group’s own architecture, interior design, and landscaping studio.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While not officially affiliated with the service academy, the luxury hotel that opened at the end of 2024 does draw a lot of inspiration from its neighbor and the Academy’s iconic mid-century modern architecture.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The plan is to establish a framework for a site-specific maritime nuclear readiness study at the Port of Corpus Christi.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Yet despite the mounting evidence, pregnant women are still only inconsistently recognized as a clinically vulnerable group across public health guidance and government frameworks.
    Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edifice. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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