1
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
an entire city block razed by a terrible fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demolishing
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces
the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of razing
At the core of the MAGA project and Trumpism is disruption and destruction, the delegitimization and razing of institutions, and the brutalization of opponents.
—
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Instead of razing buildings, Robinson wants to repurpose buildings that were significant to the Black community, including Theodore Roosevelt High School.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Trump said Saturday that the operation is aimed at razing Iran’s military and nuclear capability and dismantling its theocratic regime, and at one point even told Iranians to overthrow its government.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
That would have involved razing homes in Black neighborhoods.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Heavy equipment has been razing the multi-level concrete parking garage at 99 Founders Plaza for the past several weeks, and then will tear down the 150,000-square-foot former Bank of America offices.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
In response, the city endorsed a plan to clear major sections of the waterfront for a federal highway — razing industrial sites and promising construction jobs, but at the cost of irreplaceable historic sites along Baltimore’s waterfront.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
In a region that defaults to razing the old for the new, giving a defunct terminal a second life is a sign that some Gulf landmarks are worth preserving.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
Mainstream opinion viewed the devastation of Gaza—the killing of more than 68,000 Palestinians, razing of entire cities and villages, and preparations for mass expulsions—as justified responses to Hamas’s atrocities.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Instead of razing buildings, Robinson wants to repurpose buildings that were significant to the Black community, including Theodore Roosevelt High School.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Trump said Saturday that the operation is aimed at razing Iran’s military and nuclear capability and dismantling its theocratic regime, and at one point even told Iranians to overthrow its government.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
That would have involved razing homes in Black neighborhoods.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Heavy equipment has been razing the multi-level concrete parking garage at 99 Founders Plaza for the past several weeks, and then will tear down the 150,000-square-foot former Bank of America offices.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
In response, the city endorsed a plan to clear major sections of the waterfront for a federal highway — razing industrial sites and promising construction jobs, but at the cost of irreplaceable historic sites along Baltimore’s waterfront.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
In a region that defaults to razing the old for the new, giving a defunct terminal a second life is a sign that some Gulf landmarks are worth preserving.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
Mainstream opinion viewed the devastation of Gaza—the killing of more than 68,000 Palestinians, razing of entire cities and villages, and preparations for mass expulsions—as justified responses to Hamas’s atrocities.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for razing
Verb
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The Pentagon has generally lumped it into the first objective of destroying Iran’s missile capability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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But there may be an answer, or at least a compromise that will satisfy those unhappy with the idea of destroying a usable building.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the grumblings about demolishing the library building have lately become a roaring debate.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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Israel’s defense minister said the military would accelerate demolishing homes along the southern Lebanese border and destroy all bridges over the Litani River.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Causing economic destruction with ridiculous lockdowns, ruining lives and livelihoods…that wasn't enough?—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This might drive like a dirt race, giving Reddick, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell a chance to shine as their cars are on the verge of wrecking.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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The episode about Secret Squirrel and the perils of surveillance culture feels more relevant than ever, as does the climate-change episode in which the time-traveling Jetson family sues people of the present for wrecking their future.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ongoing heat wave shattering dozens of temperature records in Southern California is no exception, Swain said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Made up of infected IoT devices, digital video recorders, and even virtual machines, Aisuru has been grabbing headlines for launching DDoS assaults reaching as high as 30Tbps, shattering the previous records.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our team found that a hospital cyberattack cut the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest without devastating brain damage by nearly 90% at nearby hospitals, not just the one that was attacked.—
Christian Dameff,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
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Israel has stepped up assassinations of top Iranian officials in recent days, in what the Israel Defense Forces said was a push to undermine command and control in Iran after more than two weeks of devastating airstrikes that have wiped out military infrastructure but not dislodged the regime.—
Victoria Craw,
Washington Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of the men is seen on surveillance video smashing the front door with a metal object and connecting the ATM to the vehicle using a metal cable.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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Particle accelerators like the LHC typically work by firing beams of particles at nearly the speed of light and smashing them together.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Razing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/razing. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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