as in wrecking
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1
as in destroying
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 ruining
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
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3
as in shattering
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolishing
Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.
—Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 8 May 2026
Trump has overseen dramatic cosmetic changes on the White House grounds during his second term, including paving over the grassy line of the famous Rose Garden and demolishing the White House's East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Mary Shepard Place — built in the 1940s as Bellevue Square in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood — would be redeveloped in two phases, demolishing a total of 127, low-income apartments and replacing them with 159.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Trump began moving forward without congressional approval, including plans that involved demolishing the historic East Wing.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Construction crews are making way for the new home of the Detroit City Football Club after demolishing the old Southwest Detroit Hospital.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
In the filing, Omni Hotels outlined a five-year timeframe that would get the site fully designed, permitted and prepared for construction, noting construction would not start until at least five years after the demolishing of the buildings on site.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
The work included demolishing one stand entirely to create the space required to facilitate those media demands.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.
—Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 8 May 2026
Trump has overseen dramatic cosmetic changes on the White House grounds during his second term, including paving over the grassy line of the famous Rose Garden and demolishing the White House's East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Mary Shepard Place — built in the 1940s as Bellevue Square in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood — would be redeveloped in two phases, demolishing a total of 127, low-income apartments and replacing them with 159.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Trump began moving forward without congressional approval, including plans that involved demolishing the historic East Wing.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Construction crews are making way for the new home of the Detroit City Football Club after demolishing the old Southwest Detroit Hospital.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishing
Noun
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At least, there was a lot less wrecking.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Giant sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling to separate different areas for destroying things and painting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Pests and wood-destroying organisms Charlotte’s warm, humid climate makes termites a year-round threat, not just seasonal.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Unchecked homelessness is ruining our cities and communities.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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Most homeowners are surprised to learn the buzzing nuisance ruining their evenings probably started life just steps from the back door.—
Ryan Brennan
April 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Throughout its run, the production has become a box office phenomenon, repeatedly shattering house records and becoming the first show in the venue's 121-year history to gross more than $1 million in a single week.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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In what was undoubtedly earth shattering news for anyone with a tattoo of a chef's knife on their forearm, the trailer for the Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, dropped this week.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2026
Noun
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GameStop’s $65 billion, half-cash/half-stock bid would heavily dilute shareholders, add risky leverage, and require an unrealistically high valuation multiple, making value destruction more likely than creating an Amazon rival.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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The letter warns that these dynamics are not only driving environmental destruction but also weakening Indigenous governance and territorial control.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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In June 2024, it was officially named a cultural-historic landmark, preventing Milstein and Bank from razing it.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
27 Apr. 2026
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The bulk of people experiencing emergency levels of hunger live in Haiti’s northwest region, including Artibonite, which gangs have mercilessly attacked in recent years, razing communities and destroying farmland.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Surveillance video captured the assault, which showed the victim being repeatedly struck in the head with a hammer after confronting the suspect for smashing her car window.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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My hand was in a lot of pain from smashing the cane everywhere.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The music is eclectic and often gorgeous, the emotional intensity still capable of blowing all else away.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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Think of the way the path smells ahead of you, think of the freedom the wind is blowing your way.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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