demolishing 1 of 2

demolishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of demolish
1
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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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

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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 demolishing
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
Despite being identified decades ago, the exact trigger of the joint-demolishing condition is still unclear. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 At least one person was arrested for trespassing in connection with an earlier protest to stop contractors from demolishing the other trees. Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026 City officials determined the collision had damaged the bridge beyond repair and began demolishing it Tuesday. Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2026 LeVota previously said that a new use could involve either refurbishing one or both of the stadiums, or demolishing one or both entirely. Ilana Arougheti july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 At the same time, Israeli soldiers have intensified their incursions across the West Bank, arresting more than 100 Palestinians and demolishing homes. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 Concerns over demolishing the Excelsior Club The decision to demolish has sparked tension with local preservationists and historians. Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026 Beyond the environmental costs, demolishing and hauling away the remnants of huge buildings is especially expensive in dense cities such as New York. ABC News, 10 July 2026 This project, which is under review by the city, proposes demolishing the long-defunct Kmart building and bringing residences, shops and a new Publix to the plaza. Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishing
Noun
  • 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
  • Gen gets to bust out her flapper dress only to witness the most horrific, awful, potentially career-destroying failure … the caviar, oysters, and bread are all crowded onto the bread plate.
    Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The three were accused of destroying property of value less than $1,000.
    Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Picking produce early also prevents wildlife like squirrels and raccoons from ruining your harvests.
    Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026
  • But therein lies the problem with ruining baseball and predicting the World Series in August.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In 2018 a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 fan blade snapped, shattering a window and sucking a woman’s head and torso outside of the plane.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the three deputies from Bowers but was shot in his left front leg, shattering the bone and tearing an artery that caused massive blood loss.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • AccuWeather data from April showed Illinois already leading the nation in tornado, hail and high‑wind reports before the destruction last month.
    Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, some vendors have sued the city to obtain public records related to the seizure and destruction of vendor equipment.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In March, Nebraska’s Morrill Fire tore through 642,000 acres to become the largest in state history, killing one person and razing vast stretches of cattle country.
    Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • By the late 1980s, McAuley’s days clearly were numbered, as the DuPage County Airport Authority, in the midst of a major expansion, began buying and razing most of the remaining homes in the McAuley district.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • This year, conditions including a record-smashing March heat wave led to a surge in California’s native Culex mosquitoes, the transmitters of West Nile virus.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Democratic turnout in these races is smashing through records — not always to the benefit of the left.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • City leaders have accused Lineage, whose warehouse in Boyle Heights was destroyed by fire, of blowing past the city’s 45-day deadline for removing millions of pounds of rotting food from its property.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Inequality has accelerated at an ever-growing pace, blowing past that of any previous eras, including the Gilded Age.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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