TEARDOWN Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

tear down

verb

as in to destroy

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of vandals tore down the wooden fence blocking the entrance to the beach

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to demolish

to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces the new owners apparently bought the house just to tear it down and build a lavish mansion in its place

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of tear down Construction workers began tearing down walls in the long-shuttered venue that were still scarred by bullet holes from the June 12, 2016, attack, when a gunman opened fire during a Latin night celebration, killing dozens and wounding 53 other people before police killed him following a standoff. —

Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 Commissioner Patty Sheehan, the lone vote for landmark status, had feared the house would be torn down to make way for the park expansion, as did members of the trust, which petitioned for the designation. —

Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026 The last commercial tenant — a freestanding McDonald’s — was torn down in January 2025. —

Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026 The restaurant had to tear down its walls to ensure no mold was growing, and was forced to replace its equipment, furniture, plumbing and flooring. —

Angela Osorio, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tear down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down

Verb

Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.

— Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026