have been razed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been razed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been completely destroyed or demolished, often referring to buildings or structures. Example: "The old factory have been razed to make way for a new shopping center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Not all older homes have been razed, of course.

The New York Times

How many more wildernesses would have been razed?

The Guardian

Four sprawling housing projects that were flooded have been razed.

The New York Times

Houses, and sometimes entire villages, have been razed.

The New Yorker

Scores of mosques have been razed and Uighur literature burned.

The New York Times

Its neighbours have been razed for hotels, and it looks to be going the same way.

The Guardian - Arts

Municipalities across the country are paying for stadiums that have been razed or abandoned.

The New York Times

The empty lots are no longer empty, and the abandoned buildings have been razed or rehabilitated.

The New York Times

Hundreds of houses have been razed and tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.

The Guardian

Helicopter crews have reported that entire villages have been razed there.

The Guardian

Scores of shrines, religious places, cemeteries and historical sites have been razed, damaged or built over.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been razed" when you want to describe the complete destruction of buildings or structures, especially when emphasizing the leveling aspect.

Common error

Avoid using "have been razed" when referring to a future event; use "will be razed" instead. The present perfect passive tense implies the action has already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been razed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject has undergone the action of being completely destroyed or demolished. As shown by Ludwig's examples, this construction describes a past action with present relevance. The auxiliary verbs "have been" indicate perfect tense and passive voice respectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been razed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction that indicates complete destruction or leveling of structures or areas. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most commonly in news and media contexts, conveying information about demolition or destruction. While synonyms like "have been destroyed" and "have been demolished" exist, "have been razed" often implies a more thorough leveling. When using the phrase, ensure that the tense aligns with the context, avoiding future references when using the present perfect passive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been demolished

Replaces "razed" with a more common synonym, "demolished", while retaining the passive voice and tense.

have been destroyed

Uses the general term "destroyed" instead of the more specific "razed", indicating a broader range of damage.

have been leveled

Emphasizes the act of making something flat or even with the ground, similar to the effect of razing.

have been torn down

Implies a more forceful or violent removal of a structure, while maintaining the meaning of complete destruction.

have been dismantled

Suggests a systematic taking apart of something, as opposed to a sudden demolition.

have been obliterated

Indicates complete and utter destruction, possibly implying a greater scale than "razed".

have been wiped out

Uses a more figurative expression to convey the idea of complete removal or destruction.

have been reduced to rubble

Focuses on the end result of destruction, emphasizing the state of being in ruins.

were completely removed

Simplifies the phrase by using "removed" instead of "razed", making it less evocative but retaining the core meaning.

have undergone demolition

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the process of demolition rather than the action of razing.

FAQs

How can I use "have been razed" in a sentence?

You can use "have been razed" to describe buildings or areas that have been completely destroyed. For example: "The old buildings "have been razed" to make way for the new development."

What is the difference between "have been razed" and "have been demolished"?

While similar, "have been razed" often implies a more complete leveling or destruction than "have been demolished". "Razed" emphasizes the act of reducing something to the ground.

What are some synonyms for "have been razed"?

Synonyms include "have been destroyed", "have been leveled", and "have been torn down", each carrying slightly different connotations of destruction.

Is it appropriate to use "have been razed" in formal writing?

Yes, "have been razed" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when describing the destruction of buildings or areas in news reports, historical accounts, or academic papers. It is a clear and concise way to convey this meaning.