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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demolish
Last year, advocates for the New York Fashion Workforce Coalition rallied together over concern that buildings would be demolished and manufacturing would be diminished with the rezoning.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025
At the fore is Greenbelt 1 in Makati, the group’s oldest shopping center of 1980s vintage, that was demolished last year.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
By the early 1960s, the entire area was demolished to make way for what is now Capitol Mall.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2025
After partially collapsing on Sunday, one of the two Eutaw Street buildings condemned by the city’s housing department was being demolished Monday evening, as transportation officials advised that street closures likely will continue through Tuesday’s commute.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demolish
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025
At the fore is Greenbelt 1 in Makati, the group’s oldest shopping center of 1980s vintage, that was demolished last year.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
By the early 1960s, the entire area was demolished to make way for what is now Capitol Mall.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2025
After partially collapsing on Sunday, one of the two Eutaw Street buildings condemned by the city’s housing department was being demolished Monday evening, as transportation officials advised that street closures likely will continue through Tuesday’s commute.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolish
Verb
-
There were 25 diesel buses that were destroyed per the grant regulations, Young said.—
Harley Walls,
Arkansas Online,
7 Aug. 2025
-
But when our home was destroyed, our studio lost, and the war displaced us to Khanyounis’s tent camps, cooking became less about flavor and more about survival.—
Hamada Shaqoura,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Her Altadena home and the surrounding community were ruined by the Eaton wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in January.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
What is there to say when our souls have been shattered day after day, week after week, year after year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But true evil transcends death…As Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Certain buildings are being razed next door to others that keep cranking out 3 Series and 4 Series sedans and coupes, plus i4 electric cars.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 Aug. 2025
-
On July 13, the wildfire razed the historic 1937 Grand Canyon Lodge.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dozens of people remain missing after heavy flash flooding and a mudslide devastated a village in northern India, killing at least four people, local officials said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Whether or not Congress cuts NIH’s budget, the Trump administration has devastated its ability to operate.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
By then, there were two outs, Jesse Winker was on second and came home on an RBI single by Starling Marte, dramatically smashing his helmet at home plate, punctuating a two-run lead.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Claressa Shields has smashed her way through the current crop of heavyweight contenders and even called out 47-year-old pioneer Laila Ali.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The chief said the suspect wrecked the vehicle before taking a Volkswagen from a car dealership.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Houses and sections of a port have been wrecked or swept out to sea.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
The foghorn blew every 30 seconds and pelicans sailed above, doing a quick half corkscrew turn before diving.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
United’s prospective new owner, Michael Knighton, was on the pitch beforehand, ball-juggling and blowing kisses to the crowd, and Neil Webb smashed one in from 25 yards on his debut — wild stuff, honestly (yeah, get on with it, Grandad).—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolish. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share