Destroy vs Raze

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Destroy

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Raze

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most common: Destroy

	Destroy	Raze
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstrɔɪ/","/dɪˈstrɔɪz/","/dɪˈstrɔɪd/","/dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstrɔɪ/","/dɪˈstrɔɪz/","/dɪˈstrɔɪd/","/dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //reɪz// 🇺🇸 //reɪz//
Meaning	to completely ruin or cause something to no longer exist	To completely destroy a building or area.
Example	The storm can easily destroy buildings if it's strong enough.	The city decided to raze the abandoned factory to make space for a new park.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	completely, entirely, totally, can, could, etc., an attempt to destroy something, be capable of destroying something, be intent on destroying something, humanely, have to be destroyed	raze to the ground, raze a building, raze a village, raze a structure, raze a site
Antonyms	build, create, construct	build, erect
Common mistakes	Using with a non-physical object, like 'destroy a feeling' - should say 'hurt' or 'damage'., Confusing with 'create' - opposite meanings but can confuse learners., Using in a passive voice incorrectly, like 'was destroyed by him' which can sound confusing.	Confused with 'raise' which means to lift up., Incorrectly uses 'raze' for non-destructive contexts., Mixing up the spelling with similar-sounding words.
Usage notes	Use 'destroy' when referring to causing complete damage or ruin. It's suitable in most contexts but avoid using it lightly in casual conversations to describe minor damage, as it may sound overly dramatic.	Often used in formal contexts related to construction or destruction. Not appropriate for casual conversation.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

-Destroy it! -No.

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

Search and destroy.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

-Destroy it! -No.

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

Destroy

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground...

Raze

Frequently asked questions: Destroy vs Raze

What's the difference between Destroy and Raze?

Destroy: to completely ruin or cause something to no longer exist Raze: To completely destroy a building or area.

Which is more common: Destroy and Raze?

Destroy is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Destroy: The storm can easily destroy buildings if it's strong enough. Raze: The city decided to raze the abandoned factory to make space for a new park.

Can I use Destroy and Raze interchangeably?

Not always. Destroy and Raze are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.