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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wrecking
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Recent Examples of demolishing
Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs and Buccaneers met in the Super Bowl during the 2020 season, with Tom Brady's Bucs demolishing Mahomes' crew.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Rather than demolishing it or trying to carefully disassemble it for the move, the decision was made to simply jack it up and wheel it across town.
—New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2025
Disney World has begun demolishing its version of Tom Sawyer Island to make way for two new Cars attractions.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Even if Waukesha County had decided to sell the property instead of demolishing for residential use, Shaver said there likely would have been a RFP process.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The project requires demolishing the historic Odd Fellows Building, the subject of a long legal battle.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
The box was not due to be opened until centuries had passed, but the timeline had to be drastically cut short because the hospital is demolishing existing buildings to build a new children’s cancer center.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Noun
About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs and Buccaneers met in the Super Bowl during the 2020 season, with Tom Brady's Bucs demolishing Mahomes' crew.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Rather than demolishing it or trying to carefully disassemble it for the move, the decision was made to simply jack it up and wheel it across town.
—New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2025
Disney World has begun demolishing its version of Tom Sawyer Island to make way for two new Cars attractions.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Even if Waukesha County had decided to sell the property instead of demolishing for residential use, Shaver said there likely would have been a RFP process.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The project requires demolishing the historic Odd Fellows Building, the subject of a long legal battle.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
The box was not due to be opened until centuries had passed, but the timeline had to be drastically cut short because the hospital is demolishing existing buildings to build a new children’s cancer center.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishing
Verb
-
The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And broadcasting your irritation too loudly risks ruining the atmosphere for everyone else just as much as their yelling or off-key chants.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Just as Alexis Bellino flubbed her second chance by aligning herself too closely with Johnny J, an Ed Hardy snapback that refuses to die, Gretchen is ruining hers by trying to relitigate things from the Obama Administration.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Despite the ongoing discourse of economic slowdown, tariff threats and interest rate concerns, the richest Americans are shattering wealth records.—
Forbes Press Releases,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The result is nonetheless shattering, for the characters and the audience.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The wrecking begins when Carey (Marvin), Paul’s best friend, ill-advisedly sleeps with Julie—and then, more ill-advisedly still, confesses it to Paul the next day.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The earthquake devastated neighboring Kunar province, razing three villages, Reuters reported, citing local authorities.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Here was an example of humans’ chopping, razing, paving, crushing ways that have mortally wounded the natural world.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Shoplifting became a political lighting rod, and videos of thieves smashing store windows and grabbing merchandise rocketed across the news and social media as a symbol of a breakdown across cities.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While Bills Mafia holds dear traditions like smashing into tables and dousing a superfan in condiments before games, the group also developed a philanthropic bent.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens are gaining on them after blowing a 15-point lead to the Bills in the fourth quarter of the teams’ epic opener Sunday night.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Critical wildlife habitat may be put at risk for alteration or wholesale destruction.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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