Synonyms of tear down

tear down

verb

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

• destroy
• ruin
• demolish
• shatter
• wreck
• devastate
• overcome
• pull down
• smash
• damage
• waste
• rub out
• desolate
• cream
• total
• extinguish
• vaporize
• annihilate
• mar
• erode
• pulverize
• decimate
• do in
• ravage
• raze
• win (against)
• defeat
• triumph (over)
• cripple
• prevail (over)
• kill
• break
• best
• crush
• nuke
• blast
• sweep (away)
• wear (away)
• remove
• cut down
• wrack
• dismantle
• take down
• blow up
• wash out
• subdue
• wipe out
• injure
• lick
• master
• harm
• spoil
• deteriorate
• trim
• impair
• conquer
• disintegrate
• scotch
• surmount
• blot out
• rout
• dissolve
• whip
• kill off
• stamp (out)
• dynamite
• thrash
• mow (down)
• mutilate
• eradicate
• beat
• sack
• slaughter
• disfigure
• snuff (out)
• vitiate
• havoc
• mangle
• overmatch
• scour
• take out
• undo
• fell
• root (out)
• assassinate
• gut
• clobber
• overbear
• disassemble
• deface
• obliterate
• massacre
• plunder
• exterminate
• murder
• loot
• trounce
• expunge
• unmake
• liquidate
• skunk
• drub
• slay
• extirpate
• execute
• wallop
• efface
• trample
• butcher
• trash
• dilapidate
• dispatch
• despoil
• pillage
• zap
• unbuild
• vandalize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set up
• build
• put up
• construct
• raise
• patch
• repair
• erect
• create
• rear
• fix
• bring about
• produce
• form
• make
• found
• shape
• mend
• manufacture
• invent
• establish
• assemble
• fashion
• protect
• forge
• organize
• mold
• frame
• constitute
• save
• preserve
• revamp
• fabricate
• institute
• doctor
• recondition
• conserve
• restore
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• father
• remodel
• renovate

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

• demolish
• pull down
• raze
• level
• wipe out
• unbuild
• destroy
• blow up
• dynamite
• overturn
• eradicate
• finish
• ruin
• waste
• wreck
• obliterate
• abolish
• total
• crack up
• ravage
• decimate
• smash
• flatten
• extirpate
• annihilate
• pulverize
• dissolve
• unmake
• scourge
• devour
• devastate
• do in
• crush
• dash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• put up
• construct
• raise
• erect
• restore
• rebuild
• renew
• form
• create
• make
• shape
• manufacture
• renovate
• fashion
• forge
• fabricate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tear down

In 1974, Art Carney won the Best Actor Oscar for Paul Mazursky’s Harry & Tonto as a retired New Yorker who sets out on a cross-country journey to visit family with his cat after his building is being torn down. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Designers Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch built the exterior, which was torn down after filming. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

During three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur said McVay established strong foundations but also used his tireless energy to encourage assistants to tear down tried-and-true concepts and build them back, sparking innovation. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Langkilde said the radar is detecting the lowest portions of the walls and foundations, which were made with large boulders that were often left in place when medieval buildings were torn down. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026