TEAR DOWN Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

tear down

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of tear down The historic bandstand that caught fire in Denver’s City Park in March is not salvageable and will need to be torn down, according to Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver Parks & Recreation. —

John Wenzel, Denver Post, 8 June 2026 The large tower that helps coordinate systems and ground infrastructure at the pad sustained significant charring in the blast, but is in fine-enough shape that Limp said it can be repaired rather than needing to be torn down and rebuilt. —

Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 June 2026 Construction projects like tearing down the White House's East Wing and repainting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have made headlines. —

Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 June 2026 Now, its full-size pickup truck is starting to tear down that legacy. —

Joel Feder, The Drive, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tear down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down

Verb

In July 1936, anarchists set fire to the church’s crypt and broke into the architect’s workshop before destroying many of his plans and plaster models.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
The Russian president, who has never acknowledged that Ukraine is a legitimate country, or that Zelensky is its legitimate president, could continue to bomb Ukrainian cities, hoping to destroy the electrical grid and make the country unlivable.

— Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026