1
as in razed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruined
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 shattered
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
as in destroyed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolished
Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
The area has remained surface parking lots since 2012, when the arena was demolished.
—Ryan Deto, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
The Lower Hill District was a vibrant, majority-Black neighborhood before it was controversially demolished in the 1950s to make way for the Civic Arena.
—Ryan Deto, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Old Trafford will likely be demolished after construction of the new venue.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Today, many are boarded up, lying forlorn and derelict or caught in legal tangles between former owners’ descendants; others have been demolished to make way for modern developments, with the antiques and timber sold off by owners.
—Kalpana Sunder, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Then one day news arrives that La Fortuna is being demolished to make room for a high-rise condominium designed by a trendy architect named Nick (Dylan McDermott), and Gwen starts writing anonymous letters to a newspaper in protest.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
The owners purchased and demolished a neighboring house and repurposed its brick to construct a surrounding wall enclosure, according to Thomas.
—Brendel Hightower, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
The partnership demolished 38 Aetna homes last year at a cost of $570,000.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The Stretford End was demolished and replaced.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
The area has remained surface parking lots since 2012, when the arena was demolished.
—Ryan Deto, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
The Lower Hill District was a vibrant, majority-Black neighborhood before it was controversially demolished in the 1950s to make way for the Civic Arena.
—Ryan Deto, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Old Trafford will likely be demolished after construction of the new venue.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Today, many are boarded up, lying forlorn and derelict or caught in legal tangles between former owners’ descendants; others have been demolished to make way for modern developments, with the antiques and timber sold off by owners.
—Kalpana Sunder, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Then one day news arrives that La Fortuna is being demolished to make room for a high-rise condominium designed by a trendy architect named Nick (Dylan McDermott), and Gwen starts writing anonymous letters to a newspaper in protest.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
The owners purchased and demolished a neighboring house and repurposed its brick to construct a surrounding wall enclosure, according to Thomas.
—Brendel Hightower, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
The partnership demolished 38 Aetna homes last year at a cost of $570,000.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolished
Verb
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Homes and the nearby shops on North Fair Oaks had been destroyed.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
-
In the first incident, a tornado completely destroyed the building.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And then in Joker 2, some people complained that the movie was ruined by the images on the screen and the sounds that accompanied them.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
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Believing their beloved team already ruined mock drafting for the next two months, New York Giants fans probably hope for a loss against a Philadelphia Eagles team expected to rest starters Sunday.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After a vicious cyclone this month razed slums housing many undocumented immigrants on the French island territory of Mayotte, Safina Soula did not shed a tear.—
Julie Bourdin,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2024
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They were razed during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Shelby Slade,
The Arizona Republic,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The devastated family members of the victims watched Friday's sentencing via video from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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Oblivion also happens to be the title of Kosinski’s second film, in which Cruise plays a sentry watching over a devastated Earth that has become inhospitable to all life.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The venture devised by stars Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy was intended to launch a year ago but a storm wrecked the building.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2025
-
Knee and shoulder injuries wrecked her 2024 season, with the Tunisian speaking about needing regular knee injections to be able to play following a third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon in July.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
28 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Demolished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolished. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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