raze
Level a building
Raze means to completely destroy a building or settlement, leveling it to the ground: The city was razed during the war.
The word implies total demolition rather than partial damage.
It's often used in historical or military contexts: Invaders razed the village.
Despite sounding like "raise," raze means the opposite—tearing down rather than building up.
Deliberate structural destruction
- bulldozeDemolish using heavy equipment
- teardownDeliberate structure removal
- wreckingDestroying completely
- dismantleSeparate into parts
flatten · topple · gut · strip · clear · implode · rubble · wreckage
Destroy completely, leaving nothing
- destroyCause complete ruin
- wipe outDestroy completely or tumble
- exterminateDestroy completely, every one
- eradicateDestroy completely, utterly
decimate · devastate · extirpate · eliminate · purge · lay waste · total · ruination
demolition
Deliberate structural destruction
- bulldozeDemolish using heavy equipment
- teardownDeliberate structure removal
- wreckingDestroying completely
dismantle · flatten · topple · gut · strip · clear · implode · rubble · wreckage · debris
annihilate
Destroy completely, leaving nothing
- destroyCause complete ruin
- wipe outDestroy completely or tumble
- exterminateDestroy completely, every one
eradicate · decimate · devastate · extirpate · eliminate · purge · lay waste · total · ruination · despoil
flatten
Make level or smooth
bulldoze · earthwork · grading · pave · steamroll · tamp · clear · groundwork · foundation
efface
Eliminate from view
abolish · extinguish · obliterate · eradicate · blot out · cancel · nullify · void · eliminate · annul
- demolitiondemolish, bulldoze, controlled demolition, wreck, wrecking ball
- building verbsbuild, construct, erect, demolish, renovate
- Destroydestroy, annihilate, obliterate, demolish, devastate
- bring downbring down, take down, pull down, tear down, knock down
- Deconstructionteardown, deconstruction, dismantling, disassembly, take apart
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- razor bladesSharp shaving implements
- razor clamLong narrow burrowing bivalve
- electric razorMotorized grooming blade
- razor wireBladed security fencing
- razor sharpExtremely fine edge
- razor thinExtremely narrow margin