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

The White House announced the construction of the 90,000-square foot ballroom last July, and demolition began suddenly on the East Wing in late October when workers were spotted tearing down that wing of the White House. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

The thieves reportedly gained access to the building by using a Lilli Petroli truck and tearing down a large iron entrance gate using a cable. — Theo Belci, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026

The decision came amid a lawsuit brought by a group, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, arguing that the president did not have the authority to tear down the historic East Wing to make way for his passion project. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

Their wait spanned three years while their old houses were torn down and rebuilt. — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026