Synonyms of tearing down

tearing down

verb

present participle of tear down

1

as in destroying

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

• destroying
• ruining
• devastating
• shattering
• demolishing
• wrecking
• smashing
• pulling down
• overcoming
• doing in
• damaging
• wasting
• rubbing out
• eroding
• prevailing (over)
• totaling
• winning (against)
• extinguishing
• vaporizing
• pulverizing
• wearing (away)
• annihilating
• sweeping (away)
• decimating
• triumphing (over)
• crippling
• ravaging
• wracking
• razing
• marring
• creaming
• blowing up
• crushing
• killing
• breaking
• washing out
• dismantling
• desolating
• removing
• blasting
• defeating
• taking down
• wiping out
• cutting down
• nuking
• stamping (out)
• rooting (out)
• injuring
• blotting out
• licking
• trimming
• subduing
• routing
• surmounting
• mastering
• conquering
• snuffing (out)
• deteriorating
• spoiling
• killing off
• impairing
• mowing (down)
• disintegrating
• whipping
• taking out
• dissolving
• harming
• mutilating
• thrashing
• besting
• disfiguring
• clobbering
• dynamiting
• eradicating
• mangling
• scouring
• beating
• defacing
• walloping
• overmatching
• undoing
• slaughtering
• vitiating
• disassembling
• gutting
• drubbing
• trouncing
• sacking
• overbearing
• murdering
• assassinating
• plundering
• obliterating
• exterminating
• looting
• scotching
• executing
• trampling
• expunging
• extirpating
• vandalizing
• liquidating
• effacing
• slaying
• skunking
• despoiling
• pillaging
• dispatching
• massacring
• havocking
• trashing
• butchering
• zapping
• dilapidating
• unmaking
• unbuilding
• felling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setting up
• putting up
• building
• constructing
• raising
• erecting
• creating
• repairing
• rearing
• fixing
• bringing about
• producing
• making
• forming
• manufacturing
• shaping
• inventing
• establishing
• assembling
• forging
• organizing
• patching
• framing
• molding
• reconditioning
• protecting
• constituting
• revamping
• fabricating
• fashioning
• founding
• mending
• saving
• preserving
• instituting
• doctoring
• conserving
• restoring
• rebuilding
• remodeling
• reconstructing
• fathering
• renovating

2

as in demolishing

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

• demolishing
• pulling down
• razing
• blowing up
• wiping out
• leveling
• unbuilding
• destroying
• cracking up
• doing in
• dynamiting
• finishing
• overturning
• eradicating
• abolishing
• totaling
• wrecking
• wasting
• devastating
• ravaging
• obliterating
• smashing
• flattening
• ruining
• extirpating
• pulverizing
• decimating
• devouring
• dissolving
• annihilating
• crushing
• unmaking
• scourging
• dashing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• building
• constructing
• raising
• putting up
• erecting
• restoring
• rebuilding
• creating
• renewing
• making
• forming
• manufacturing
• shaping
• forging
• renovating
• fabricating
• fashioning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tearing 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

Mercury is a big network with an independent spirit, tearing down gatekeepers and giving a platform to the best indie shows. — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

That will take Major League Soccer tearing down all the walls. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

But others—including tearing down the East Wing to build a ballroom, or his plan to construct an arch at the city’s limits—are an attempt to cement his legacy long after his term in office is over. — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026

Backes said plans call for tearing down the existing building where the call center is located and building a data center that would conform to North Richland Hills’ requirements. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026

The British Government is desperate to make progress in tearing down trade barriers. — Anand Menon, Time, 13 June 2026

Yes to hugging and high-fiving a stranger; no to tearing down a lamppost and smashing a cop car. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026