Synonyms of demolish

demolish

verb

di-ˈmä-lish 

1

as in to destroy

to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces

developers demolished the old warehouse to make room for the new shopping mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroy
• raze
• smash
• ruin
• tear down
• unbuild
• pull down
• wreck
• overturn
• finish
• dynamite
• obliterate
• level
• flatten
• eradicate
• ravage
• abolish
• decimate
• annihilate
• devastate
• pulverize
• extirpate
• wipe out
• devour
• waste
• dissolve
• unmake
• blow up
• crush
• total
• scourge
• do in
• crack up
• dash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• erect
• raise
• put up
• restore
• rebuild
• renew
• create
• make
• renovate
• form
• manufacture
• shape
• forge
• fabricate
• fashion

2

as in to ruin

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of

most of the buildings in the town had been demolished in the bombing raid

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroy
• ruin
• shatter
• devastate
• wreck
• smash
• overcome
• raze
• damage
• annihilate
• extinguish
• decimate
• pulverize
• waste
• erode
• vaporize
• dismantle
• desolate
• ravage
• cream
• tear down
• kill
• pull down
• mar
• total
• remove
• cripple
• rub out
• crush
• nuke
• defeat
• do in
• injure
• subdue
• break
• conquer
• wrack
• best
• disintegrate
• blast
• dissolve
• lick
• spoil
• impair
• eradicate
• mutilate
• obliterate
• deteriorate
• prevail (over)
• master
• surmount
• disfigure
• trim
• win (against)
• deface
• harm
• triumph (over)
• rout
• whip
• dynamite
• exterminate
• wear (away)
• vitiate
• undo
• mangle
• sweep (away)
• trounce
• assassinate
• thrash
• expunge
• beat
• liquidate
• disassemble
• clobber
• scour
• scotch
• extirpate
• blow up
• unmake
• slaughter
• execute
• wipe out
• wash out
• overbear
• slay
• sack
• efface
• plunder
• despoil
• fell
• trample
• overmatch
• take down
• gut
• unbuild
• vandalize
• drub
• blot out
• pillage
• cut down
• dilapidate
• loot
• massacre
• murder
• havoc
• stamp (out)
• wallop
• kill off
• butcher
• snuff (out)
• zap
• dispatch
• root (out)
• mow (down)
• take out
• trash
• skunk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• erect
• set up
• raise
• create
• repair
• put up
• fix
• patch
• rear
• produce
• make
• invent
• establish
• mend
• assemble
• found
• form
• manufacture
• protect
• shape
• preserve
• constitute
• organize
• fabricate
• forge
• revamp
• save
• recondition
• mold
• bring about
• rebuild
• institute
• restore
• frame
• conserve
• reconstruct
• fashion
• doctor
• renovate
• remodel
• father

3

as in to shatter

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive

terrorists used a powerful pipe bomb to demolish the concrete wall around the compound

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shatter
• smash
• destroy
• blow
• explode
• burst
• pop
• blast
• detonate
• blow up
• annihilate
• ruin
• decimate
• wreck
• dynamite
• fragment
• discharge
• splinter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapse
• implode

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of demolish

However, last week, the tide turned as the Green Bay Packers demolished the Bears, winning 31-7. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Obviously, the risk of default is something that should concern all stakeholders because equity value will generally be demolished long before any default actually happens. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Rand said the application proposes demolishing the building at this time, but calls it a very early first step and adds that the owner is open to a compromise. — Gio Insignares, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

The island is the former home of a Renault factory, which was active for most of the 20th century and demolished in 2005. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Oct. 2026