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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolish
Regular guy Arthur Dent, while trying to prevent his house from getting demolished in favor of a new motorway, gets launched into space when aliens similarly blow up the planet in favor of progress.
—
Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Orlando city officials allowed reporters to see inside the structure on Monday, before it is demolished later this year.
—Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2025
Work moved at a breakneck pace — buildings sprung up and were abruptly demolished when no longer needed.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Thirteen years after the nursing home shut down, a developer is proposing to demolish the vacant building and put up 160 apartments.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demolish
Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Orlando city officials allowed reporters to see inside the structure on Monday, before it is demolished later this year.
—Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2025
Work moved at a breakneck pace — buildings sprung up and were abruptly demolished when no longer needed.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Thirteen years after the nursing home shut down, a developer is proposing to demolish the vacant building and put up 160 apartments.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolish
Verb
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To destroy the site, an attack would have to come in waves, with bombers releasing one after another down the same hole.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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But the conflict has only escalated, with Russia’s launching some of its most extensive strikes in a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of casualties, and Ukraine’s carrying out the audacious Operation Spiderweb drone attack, which damaged or destroyed strategic aircraft inside Russia.—
Adam Rasmi,
Time,
20 June 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
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And just like that, Donald Trump ruined something else.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2025
Verb
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His ability to love completely hasn’t been shattered, however.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2025
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These moves have shattered walls that have long kept data within the agencies that collect it.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Buildings that were part of the Howe Developmental Center, to the east of the Park District’s Freedom Park, are newer than the rest of the hospital property and are expected to involve less environmental remediation before being razed.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
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Six Flags Atlantis was razed for Oakwood Plaza in Hollywood.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2025
Verb
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While everyone gives the duo a standing ovation, Zoe and company are devastated, knowing the truth.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
20 June 2025
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Petty said the Christensen family has been devastated by the fatal accident, but are hopeful that Ella will be released from the hospital later this week.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 June 2025
Verb
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On June 21, Mitchell, South Dakota, broke its daily high temperatures record at 104 degrees, smashing its previous record of 101 degrees.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
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Numerous other boats were damaged that day as the powerful thunderstorm churned up waves and sent boats smashing into each other and the marina, according to KCRA-TV.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
Verb
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The facility had been subject to sabotage and subterfuge by Israel for many years even before these attacks–including a computer virus that wrecked the centrifuges over a decade ago.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
26 June 2025
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All three spent Wednesday warning that Mamdani would wreck New York.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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That connection and warmth was obvious on Friday night, with Cardi blowing past her bedtime to give the gays, the dolls and everyone else an experience beyond what any other NYC festival provides.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
28 June 2025
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One of the grants in the FEMA program that blew past its deadline for opening applications pays half of his salary.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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