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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tearing down
Lewis is learning how to be more present in a way that’s valuable to Jax and communicate in a way that’s building and not tearing down.
—
Giana Levy, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Seconds after the anchors thanked Pulte for appearing and handed things off to Squawk on the Street, the production crew were tearing down the set and prepping for the opening bell.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
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 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
In Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood, a $35 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant is tearing down old public housing and replacing it with new homes, better schools, and streets that can handle a heavy thunderstorm without shutting the neighborhood down.
—Lenwood V. Long, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Workers have begun tearing down the former Sacramento Bee offices on 21st Street, once an expansive and bustling complex, making way for housing projects at the site that served as the newspaper’s home for nearly 70 years.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Dramatic video from the Himalayan village of Dharali, Uttarakhand state, shows the wall of water, mud and debris tearing down the mountainside and through the village, destroying the homes and businesses in its path.
—Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Giana Levy, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Seconds after the anchors thanked Pulte for appearing and handed things off to Squawk on the Street, the production crew were tearing down the set and prepping for the opening bell.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
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 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
In Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood, a $35 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant is tearing down old public housing and replacing it with new homes, better schools, and streets that can handle a heavy thunderstorm without shutting the neighborhood down.
—Lenwood V. Long, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Workers have begun tearing down the former Sacramento Bee offices on 21st Street, once an expansive and bustling complex, making way for housing projects at the site that served as the newspaper’s home for nearly 70 years.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Dramatic video from the Himalayan village of Dharali, Uttarakhand state, shows the wall of water, mud and debris tearing down the mountainside and through the village, destroying the homes and businesses in its path.
—Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing down
Verb
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In July, the Dragon Bravo Fire engulfed the more remote side of Grand Canyon National Park, destroying dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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The horrific string of wildfires that has plagued California in recent years, taking dozens of lives and destroying many billions of dollars in property, also created a crisis in property insurance.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tens of thousands have been fleeing the city, which has seen Israel demolishing high-rise buildings.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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Preservationists stepped in to keep the company from its standard practice of demolishing a vacant building.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Doing so could compromise the slight taper at the hem, ruining the silhouette.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
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Car designers love them for not ruining the lines of the door with the necessities of real life, but is the benefit from drag reduction worth the safety risk?—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, where iOS 7 applied a flatter, minimalist effect to windows and icons and their edges, iOS 26 adds a (sometimes frosted) glassy look and a mildly fluid movement to actions such as pulling down menus or long-pressing controls.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
17 Sep. 2025
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Madrid played with a player less for almost an hour after the centre-back was shown a direct red card in the 32nd minute for pulling down opponent Mikel Oyarzabal, who was through on goal.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This impact triggered a tsunami up to 100 meters (328 feet) high, devastating the area and causing the creation of the Silverpit crater.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
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The disaster claimed at least 85 lives and destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings, devastating most of the town of Paradise.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This prevents plastic buckets from breaking, for example, or glass bottles from shattering.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Sep. 2025
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But instead of shattering plates, gunshots cut through the music and the celebration devolved into chaos — the latest instance of gun violence erupting at a seemingly safe place in the US.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Adam Berry/Getty Images What To Know Phoenix police said in a release to media that a 19-year-old was detained after wrecking a memorial for Kirk at the office of Turning Point USA, the conservative campus group that Kirk co-founded.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After a 15-year career in New Orleans smashing records with Payton, the now-46-year-old Brees connected with Payton's newest franchise QB this offseason as Nix spent several days traveling down to San Diego for visits.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
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The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Purini in the wake of Infinity Castle’s record-smashing North American opening.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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