Disedify

/dɪsˈɛdɪfaɪ/ verb

Definition

To tear down or destroy buildings; to demolish or remove structures.

Etymology

From dis- (opposite) + edify (to build up, from Latin aedificare). The opposite of edify, meaning to take apart rather than construct.

Kelly Says

Urban planners now 'disedify' blighted neighborhoods strategically—leaving some buildings standing while demolishing others can actually cost more and take longer than clearing everything, teaching counterintuitive lessons about progress.

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