pulling down

verb

present participle of pull down
1
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of a powerful storm pulled down the old fishing shack, which had been immortalized in countless paintings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demolishing
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces an ugly billboard that was eventually pulled down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in earning
to receive as return for effort he's pulling down six figures at that job

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 pulling down San Jose police officials released 17 minutes of security footage showing vandals brazenly breaking into the Vietnamese Heritage Garden last month and pulling down a nine-foot monument depicting a South Vietnamese soldier. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Good for hugging and pulling down rebounds in pickup basketball. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Anderson, a former BYU standout, played in 40 games during his three seasons with the Packers, contributing 36 tackles, recovering two fumbles, breaking up two passes and pulling down one interception in 145 defensive snaps. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026 That goes triple for NBA players and their teams, because your partner likely isn’t pulling down eight figures annually. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Good to see that the additional stock supply isn’t pulling down the market. — Jeff Marks,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 June 2026 Chicago area still cleaning up after Wednesday storms All this is happening on the heels of a day where storms wreaked havoc all around the Chicago area, pulling down trees and power lines and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power. — Laura Bannon, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Twenty-four Broadway shows will hope to nab at least one win Sunday across the 26 Tony categories, which can mean the difference between keeping the doors open and pulling down the curtain. — ABC News, 7 June 2026 First Up Long-term Treasury yields reached their highest level since 2007 on Tuesday, pulling down the broader stock market, as some analysts say an even steeper bond selloff could be on the horizon. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling down
  1. destroying
  2. demolishing
  3. earning
  4. ruining
  5. tearing down
  6. winning
  7. shattering
  8. reaping
Verb
  • Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
  • But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 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
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • As a market maker, Keyrock buys and sells cryptocurrencies in large quanties, earning money from the spread as well as providing liquidity.
    — Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Morton, a British native who’s been acting since age 12, has pulled off a dynamic and varied career over three-plus decades, earning Oscar noms for her supporting role in Sweet and Lowdown and lead turn in In America.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026
Definition of earning
Verb
  • Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
  • Plus, one of the biggest things that holds people back from DIY is a fear of ruining their home, but that’s virtually impossible with peel-and-stick wallpaper.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Definition of ruining
Verb
  • Mercury is a big network with an independent spirit, tearing down gatekeepers and giving a platform to the best indie shows.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • That will take Major League Soccer tearing down all the walls.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of tearing down
Verb
  • After winning it all at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Germans have regularly disappointed on the big stage.
    — Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Ferran Torres, the winning goalscorer, came through at Valencia but has played for Barca since 2021.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of winning
Verb
  • The tax, generally considered a barometer of the tourist industry’s health, has been on a 14-month tear, shattering all monthly revenue records and outpacing the rosiest of predictions by its closest followers.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • While the franchise dates way back to gaming’s 16-bit era, its most recent release, 2020’s Streets of Rage 4, hit like a jaw-shattering Grand Hook with critics and fans alike.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • In 2026, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is reaping benefits from belief in Alcántara.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Like Fox Sports, which is reaping NFL-level audiences for its World Cup coverage, the matches command a demographically diverse and multi-generational audience.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of reaping

Browse Nearby Words

pulling away
pulling down
pulling in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pulling down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling%20down. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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