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
But the new private terminal is winning their support, with the backing of historians and preservationists who have been fighting to maintain South Florida’s aviation legacy in a region known for tearing down buildings.
—
Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
The doc by Nim Shapira focuses on the street war that broke out between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups that tore down each other’s messages about the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
The Raiders traded him to the Cowboys midway through the 2018 campaign, as the team was tearing down the roster.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
It was demolished in 2013, and most of the distillery’s buildings were torn down to clear the site.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
The doc by Nim Shapira focuses on the street war that broke out between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups that tore down each other’s messages about the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
The Raiders traded him to the Cowboys midway through the 2018 campaign, as the team was tearing down the roster.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
It was demolished in 2013, and most of the distillery’s buildings were torn down to clear the site.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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Some are value-destroying black holes; others are relentless value creators.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last week, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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In a shocking and dominant performance, Lesnar completely demolished Cena, delivering 16 German suplexes in a one-sided beatdown to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some hardware is brass-plated, which means scrubbing could expose the metal underneath and ruin the finish.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Videos are pulled down and domains are blocked.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Moore attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Caleb Wiliams over the middle of the field, when he was pulled down by defenders.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What would shatter any other nation has become our daily broadcast.—
John Feinblatt,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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These hopes are shattered when a brutish stranger appears on the doorstep to take his family back.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Last week the hacks finally returned Read’s SUV, but with its electronics system totally wrecked.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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Arguing further against a lopsided game, two Eagles defenders who wrecked Kansas City’s blocking in the Super Bowl have moved on.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Deadly floods in Asia have devastated crops, crippling already fragile food production.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The glossy marketing doesn't include a footnote about trust funds, family support or the ability to absorb year-over-year losses that would devastate most working families.—
Elle Wang,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the first half drew to a close, Calvert-Lewin towered above Kenny Tete to nod a ball down that Sean Longstaff would eventually smash off the crossbar.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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In the worst-case scenario, a collision could smash a satellite into many more pieces of space debris, which each then go on to collide with more satellites, which produces more chunks of space junk, and so on and so forth.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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