pulling down

Definition of pulling downnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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 Backup center Luka Garza helped the Celtics survive the upset bid by scoring a season-high 22 points and pulling down six of his team’s 18 offensive rebounds. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026 Dunn scored 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and Kennedy Smith scored 12 points while pulling down six rebounds. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 On social media, some have been seen pulling down his statues. Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026 Towering Second Baptist 6-foot-10 sophomore Kaiden Smith wreaked havoc in the middle, pulling down 18 rebounds and altering multiple shots. Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2026 The 5-foot-7 Burzycki was good to go Thursday night, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with five points for the Vikings in a 55-42 nonconference win over host Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026 But 6-foot-8 Eric Lopez kicked up his game, pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking nine shots. Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 The person, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said they were punched in the face after pulling down an officer’s mask who was dragging them out of the vehicle. Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026 Many airlines are pulling down their operations at Newark, Bastian said, which reduces some of the congestion at the airport. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling down
Verb
  • Hamas’ charter calls for destroying Israel.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • When season five begins, Ed is a leader in the separatist group the Sons and Daughters of Mars, a former agent of the ruling order now intent on destroying it.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The musician and fashion mogul began the process of demolishing the architectural gem, completely stripping its electricity, plumbing, bathrooms, and windows.
    India Roby, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Michigan basketball team is headed to the NCAA national championship game Monday night after demolishing Arizona 93-71 in the Final Four on Saturday in Indianapolis.
    Brian Manzullo, Freep.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Ryan Gusto, Andrew Nardi, Lake Bachar and Michael Petersen each pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, with Petersen earning his first career MLB save.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
  • From 2019 to 2024, ARC billed the state over $400 million for psychoeducation and peer support, earning the company more than $125 million, about a quarter of all reimbursements paid to Kentucky providers during that time.
    Alex Acquisto, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Monday’s game offered yet another example of how the team that supposedly is ruining baseball is fattening the wallets of the league’s other 29 teams.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Your couch has a fabric cleaning code — usually printed on a tag tucked under the cushions — and ignoring it can mean ruining the upholstery.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Workers were tearing down the court at the near-empty United Center late Sunday afternoon after Michigan’s win over Tennessee when a roar erupted from the nearby media workroom.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The decades-long struggle to make Victory a viable neighborhood should give pause to proponents of tearing down City Hall to build an arena and entertainment district.
    Mark Lamster Architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In addition, Ken is an Emmy-award winning broadcaster for Fox Sports’ MLB telecasts.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Heat is just one loss behind the Hornets and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Charlotte after winning the regular-season series 3-1.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Trump has gone far toward shattering what’s left of America’s global stature.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The auction comes just weeks after David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster sold for a record-shattering $14,550,000.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the highest-income households are reaping the biggest gains.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Downtown is reaping the harvest of seeds planted years ago, Taft said.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pulling down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling%20down. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster