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
While there have been reports of unpermitted construction that was halted and the tearing down of some buildings at Monster Lake, Pam Filtner noted in the Cowboy State Daily that the Bighorn Ranch structures have thankfully remained intact.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Photos released Thursday show that the entire East Wing has been torn down, including the East Colonnade where the theater had been located.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Footage of demolition equipment tearing down part of the historical structure to allow for construction of the president’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom has been all over social media.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 23 Oct. 2025
Others disagree with White House position on demolition Some historic preservationist and past members of the National Capital Commission argue the ballroom designs should have been submitted for review before the tear down began.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Photos released Thursday show that the entire East Wing has been torn down, including the East Colonnade where the theater had been located.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Footage of demolition equipment tearing down part of the historical structure to allow for construction of the president’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom has been all over social media.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 23 Oct. 2025
Others disagree with White House position on demolition Some historic preservationist and past members of the National Capital Commission argue the ballroom designs should have been submitted for review before the tear down began.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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The Japanese battleship Musashi, one of the largest ever built, was destroyed.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Russian air defense systems destroyed one drone heading for Moscow, the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Sunday, according to Reuters.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More recently, high-profile firms including Amazon, Apple, Coinbase, Comcast, Google, Lockheed Martin and Meta Platforms have agreed to help finance the ballroom Trump plans for the White House after ordering the building’s East Wing to be demolished.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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To build the new housing, Arrow Street Development plans to demolish about a half-dozen buildings including multiple old single-family homes and commercial structures.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Post finished with 15 points and made a trio of 3-pointers, while Jackson-Davis pulled down 10 rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
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In a brief stint in the Clippers’ preseason opener in Oceanside, Brown came off the bench and immediately pulled down three offensive rebounds.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Viewers are dropped into the aftermath of an unnamed personal conflict and must work out over the course of the runtime the stakes of the situation, a highwire act handled deftly by the actors whose tender performances provide the emotional impact of the film’s shattering final sequence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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The case of Mamulya, a donkey whose hoof was shattered, apparently in a mine explosion, becomes central to the story, emblematic of the assistance the sanctuary receives from within and beyond Ukraine’s borders in order to provide state-of-the-art medical treatments.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 1816 the stratosphere was saturated with Tambora’s dust, and sea ice nearly wrecked Scoresby’s ship off the eastern coast of Greenland.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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That history came to an end after wrecking crews tore down the wing’s two stories of offices and reception rooms last week.—
Darlene Superville,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then, heat waves in 2024 devastated some northern colonies that had demonstrated more resilience.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
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This happened when Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The solar wind smashes into the leading edge of Earth’s magnetosphere with supersonic speed, creating a shockwave that can come closer than one hundred thousand kilometers to the planet’s illuminated side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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From there, two of the thieves slinked up the ladder to smash a window that leads to the Galerie d’Apollon on the museum’s second floor.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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