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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of razing
The earthquake devastated neighboring Kunar province, razing three villages, Reuters reported, citing local authorities.
—
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Here was an example of humans’ chopping, razing, paving, crushing ways that have mortally wounded the natural world.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
The county’s preliminary plan calls for razing it, except for the portion where the supervisors hold their public meetings.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Eventually the state agreed with residents’ petitions, purchasing and razing hundreds of homes, the property itself becoming part of New York City’s network of parks.
—Elizabeth Rush, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
The university has spent the last few months razing the old stadium.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
In 2019, the cottage faced an uncertain future as the new owners of the land at 239 Franklin Road, where it was then located, appeared interested in razing the cottage to make space for new construction.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2024
Environmental ministries, for example, will need to put more resources toward stopping cattle ranchers from razing the rainforest, whereas agriculture agencies might have to fund more sea patrols to prevent overfishing.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Here was an example of humans’ chopping, razing, paving, crushing ways that have mortally wounded the natural world.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
The county’s preliminary plan calls for razing it, except for the portion where the supervisors hold their public meetings.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Eventually the state agreed with residents’ petitions, purchasing and razing hundreds of homes, the property itself becoming part of New York City’s network of parks.
—Elizabeth Rush, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
The university has spent the last few months razing the old stadium.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
In 2019, the cottage faced an uncertain future as the new owners of the land at 239 Franklin Road, where it was then located, appeared interested in razing the cottage to make space for new construction.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2024
Environmental ministries, for example, will need to put more resources toward stopping cattle ranchers from razing the rainforest, whereas agriculture agencies might have to fund more sea patrols to prevent overfishing.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for razing
Verb
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The show revolves around three Texas Hill Country ranching family dynasties locked in a contest for control of the land, and their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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The allocation changes regularly, but as of June 2025, according to Business Insider, destroying a tank was worth eight points.—
Tamar Jacoby,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Car designers love them for not ruining the lines of the door with the necessities of real life, but is the benefit from drag reduction worth the safety risk?—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
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And broadcasting your irritation too loudly risks ruining the atmosphere for everyone else just as much as their yelling or off-key chants.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Adam Berry/Getty Images What To Know Phoenix police said in a release to media that a 19-year-old was detained after wrecking a memorial for Kirk at the office of Turning Point USA, the conservative campus group that Kirk co-founded.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The group also recently stepped out together at a University of Cincinnati football game, which just so happened to be Swift and Kelce’s first public outing since announcing their plans to get married with an internet-shattering post on Instagram in August.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
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Pamela Warner, mother and manager of the late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, reflected on the life-shattering moment her son had untimely passed away.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than just devastating the lives of these commuters — most of whom earn under $49,000 per year and work blue-collar jobs — each of these cars on the freeway is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.—
Stan Oklobdzija,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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After a series of devastating airstrikes, the Israeli military is sending its ground forces into Gaza City, causing thousands of Palestinians to flee and escalating a humanitarian crisis in the region.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From the Luddites smashing looms in 19th-century England to autoworkers walking out over the introduction of robots to the factory floor in the 1980s, resistance has flared before either being crushed or subsiding, giving way to the new economies and social orders the technologies ushered in.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The 40th anniversary of John Farnham’s record-smashing 1986 album Whispering Jack will be celebrated with a new musical.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Razing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/razing. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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