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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tear down
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a bigot who tore down and discarded four religious Hindu flags hanging in front of a Queens home.
—
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
While many were torn down, in some communities, local organizations rallied to preserve these depots and reuse them in creative ways.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
For Ramsey, this meant trying to tear down workplace hierarchy — making sure that everybody felt comfortable and welcome, seen and heard.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Check out progress in the north end zone Almost immediately after the season ended, Boise State went to work on tearing down the stands on the north end of the stadium.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
While many were torn down, in some communities, local organizations rallied to preserve these depots and reuse them in creative ways.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
For Ramsey, this meant trying to tear down workplace hierarchy — making sure that everybody felt comfortable and welcome, seen and heard.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Check out progress in the north end zone Almost immediately after the season ended, Boise State went to work on tearing down the stands on the north end of the stadium.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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At least 144 structures were destroyed and parts of Highway 44 were shut down, said St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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In order to retrieve the original source code of the Entity and destroy it, Hunt has to risk life and limb and dive into icy arctic waters to a sunken Soviet submarine teetering 500 feet underwater.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
15 May 2025
Verb
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WIth Jarren Duran on first with a one-out single in the sixth, Devers demolished Lugo’s first pitch, a 91.8 mph four-seamer.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
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If anything, Gunther should absolutely demolish the beloved McAfee as a way of getting back on the right foot following a surprise submission defeat to Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2025
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Sonos is very, very sorry for ruining your speaker system.—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Federal government employment declined by 9,000 in April and is down by 26,000 since January — not enough to pull down overall employment.—
Talmon Joseph Smith,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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Fast-forwarding spending, or stockpiling, is like pulling down the shutters ahead of a hurricane (in the event this particular hurricane was much worse than feared).—
The Editors,
National Review,
1 May 2025
Verb
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His family confirmed his identity in a GoFundMe fundraiser, which has so far raised upwards of $35,000 to support his family, shattering its $5,000 goal.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
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O’Brien ranks 22nd in NCAA history in career caused turnovers with 160, which shatters Lacey Leigh Hentz’s previous school record of 146.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2025
Verb
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That predecessor was wrecked May 9, 1980, when a freighter, lost in the vicious storm, broadsided the southbound span of the twin bridge and knocked down a 1,260-foot section of roadway.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2025
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They were meant to stop drivers from careening across who were wrecking his soybeans.—
Riley Robinson,
Christian Science Monitor,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Beyond the immediate dead, the refugees, destroyed agriculture, loss of economic capacity, all would utterly devastate China.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Independent cinema—arguably the heart of artistic risk and innovation, would be devastated.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The crash came a little over a year after the Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, lost power while departing Baltimore’s harbor and smashed into the Key Bridge, killing six people and destroying critical infrastructure.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Devers stepped to the plate with a tie score and smashed a 2-1 breaking ball to deep right-center over the bullpen wall, propelling the Red Sox to a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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