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
Artificial turf was laid on Boguski Field over the offseason, and the old bleachers were torn down.
—
Mike Organ, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
While condemnations are not uncommon, the city does not casually tear down properties, especially prominent ones.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
White Stadium was torn down and the project is still on track.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Months after the plant shuttered in 2013, the university hired a demolition company to tear down the silos, in order to make way for a parking lot.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Mike Organ, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
While condemnations are not uncommon, the city does not casually tear down properties, especially prominent ones.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
White Stadium was torn down and the project is still on track.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Months after the plant shuttered in 2013, the university hired a demolition company to tear down the silos, in order to make way for a parking lot.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Police in Florida are searching for two men caught on camera destroying a mall store while stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Although a formal vote was not taken, there was consensus among the city council members on Monday night to demolish the old City Hall and to preserve the old fire station, Leawood spokesperson Beth Breitenstein said in an email.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Jokake Inn closed in the late 1970s and was demolished, except for its Pueblo revival-style belfry towers, which were incorporated into The Phoenician.—
Douglas C. Towne,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Or pursue the rancid criminal element across the galaxy as a bounty hunter, making your fortune by ruining bad guys' lives.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Everybody along the defensive line shows up, and the edge players do a nice job of coming in and pulling down running backs from behind before they can be pushed through the pile.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Both of them wore their stocking caps pulled down beneath the hoods of their anoraks.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each episode explores how Taylor shattered Hollywood’s glass ceiling, built a billion-dollar business empire, and transformed celebrity activism through her pioneering work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
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Jeff sustained a gunshot wound that shattered his ankle, receiving two surgeries to remove the bullet and leather from his foot.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Brian Schottenheimer battles through injuries Heading into the game against the Jets, Schottenheimer’s offensive line was wrecked by injury.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
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Centuries ago, a fleet of Spanish ships laden with gold, silver and jewels taken from the New World was sailing back to Spain when a hurricane wrecked the flotilla on July 31, 1715, spilling the treasures into the sea, according to the 1715 Fleet Society.—
Kate Payne,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And that doesn’t change when the relationships in the middle of a dispute are the ones between Prince William and Prince Harry, and the one feeling devastated by the feud is Prince George.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 Oct. 2025
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But none appears set to devastate his team’s chances of contention as has that of Burrow.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 28-year-old provided another example with his second goal of the game, beating Robin Koch and smashing Bayern’s third into the top corner, late in the second half.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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In addition to smashing the Machine, Swift also easily soared over Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed One Battle After Another, the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring drama that fell to second place in week two.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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