1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
vandals tore down the wooden fence blocking the entrance to the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to demolish
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces
the new owners apparently bought the house just to tear it down and build a lavish mansion in its place
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tear down
The group of artists, which was led by then-couple Michael Townsend and Adriana Valdez-Young, came up with the plan after real estate developers tore down their artists' commune about a mile away from what would become the mall.
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
If Manley is successful in buying the property, and after Beckman Coulter leaves, all the buildings would be torn down and a Costco would be built there.
—Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Beyond the Luddites, rioters destroyed threshing machines in 1830, Welsh protesters tore down turnpike tollgates in the 1840s.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
If Manley is successful in buying the property, and after Beckman Coulter leaves, all the buildings would be torn down and a Costco would be built there.
—Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Beyond the Luddites, rioters destroyed threshing machines in 1830, Welsh protesters tore down turnpike tollgates in the 1840s.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The World Food Program said in an earlier statement that its warehouse was demolished by Somali authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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The building will be demolished to make way for an 86-unit affordable housing development, according to board documents.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Syrian government forces moved in to secure the camp a day later but, in the meantime, fences had been pulled down and dozens of prisoners had escaped.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
23 Jan. 2026
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Jordan Shaw scored 13 points, while Sammy Childs chipped in with seven points and Reginald Johnson pulled down seven rebounds.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sequence of Enoch among the heavenly hosts, violent, shattering with Blakeian geometry and color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Family describes unimaginable grief In a statement, Grace Brito's mother, Tracy Brito, described a family shattered by the loss of their daughter.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The hits wrecked the vehicle and deployed at least one of the airbags, according to the report.—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon National Park is preparing to reopen portions of the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the region last summer.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Through its Quds Force, the Guard backed regional groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, but recent Israeli strikes have devastated its network.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The third-grade children were traveling back to Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school in Paramus after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center when a large rock smashed through the bus window, the school previously told Fox News Digital.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Masked thieves jumped out and used trash cans, crowbars and hammers to smash every showcase, Ramzy Tabello, the owner, told freelance news videographer OC Hawk.—
Ryanne Mena,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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