demolish

de·mol·ish

verb \di-ˈmä-lish\

Definition of DEMOLISH

transitive verb

1

a : tear down, raze b : to break to pieces : smash

2

a : to do away with : destroy b : to strip of any pretense of merit or credence

— de·mol·ish·er noun

— de·mol·ish·ment \-lish-mənt\ noun

Examples of DEMOLISH

1. The old factory was demolished to make way for a new parking lot.
2. Tons of explosives were used to demolish the building.
3. The town hopes to restore the old theater rather than have it demolished.
4. The car was demolished in the accident.
5. They demolished the other team 51–7.

Origin of DEMOLISH

Middle French demoliss-, stem of demolir, from Latin demoliri, from de- + moliri to construct, from moles mass — more at mole

First Known Use: 1570

Related to DEMOLISH

Synonyms: level, pull down, raze, tear down, unbuild

Antonyms: build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words: blow up, dynamite; abolish, annihilate, crack up, crush, dash, decimate, destroy, devastate, devour, dissolve, do in, eradicate, extirpate, finish, flatten, obliterate, overturn, pulverize, ravage, ruin, scourge, smash, total, unmake, waste, wipe out, wreck

Near Antonyms: build, construct, erect, put up, raise; rebuild, renew, renovate, restore; create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, make, manufacture, shape

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Rhymes with DEMOLISH

abolish