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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tearing down 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 Removing a dam, however, is rarely as simple as tearing down concrete. — Radina Gigova, CNN Money, 27 May 2026 Crews started tearing down what's left of the building Saturday. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing down
  1. destroying
  2. demolishing
  3. ruining
  4. pulling down
  5. devastating
  6. shattering
  7. wrecking
  8. smashing
Verb
  • After flying toward a naval target over the Black Sea, the aircraft launched one of the supersonic missiles from a stand-off distance exceeding 120 kilometers, successfully destroying its target.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
  • Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators are probing a destructive fire that ripped through a Sun Valley strip mall early Sunday morning, destroying a beloved family-run market.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Beyond the environmental costs, demolishing and hauling away the remnants of huge buildings is especially expensive in dense cities such as New York.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • This project, which is under review by the city, proposes demolishing the long-defunct Kmart building and bringing residences, shops and a new Publix to the plaza.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • Plus, one of the biggest things that holds people back from DIY is a fear of ruining their home, but that’s virtually impossible with peel-and-stick wallpaper.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
  • Clothes moths are indoor pests notorious for ruining the best threads in any closet.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026
Definition of ruining
Verb
  • San Jose police officials released 17 minutes of security footage showing vandals brazenly breaking into the Vietnamese Heritage Garden last month and pulling down a nine-foot monument depicting a South Vietnamese soldier.
    — Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • Good for hugging and pulling down rebounds in pickup basketball.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of pulling down
Verb
  • Instead, Trump talks about devastating Iran’s infrastructure – hitting bridges and power plants.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Over 850 wildfires are currently devastating Canada, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • The tax, generally considered a barometer of the tourist industry’s health, has been on a 14-month tear, shattering all monthly revenue records and outpacing the rosiest of predictions by its closest followers.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • While the franchise dates way back to gaming’s 16-bit era, its most recent release, 2020’s Streets of Rage 4, hit like a jaw-shattering Grand Hook with critics and fans alike.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • Long-distance backpacking is having a moment, and readers planning a first thru-hike want to know how to prepare without wrecking their body, their gear budget or their trip.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
  • Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Definition of wrecking
Verb
  • This actor, Yannis Kokiasmenos, came in for half a day and is holding his own, smashing this scene.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Then, in minute 105, Spain finally broke through with midfielder Ferran Torres smashing one into the net off a deflection.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 July 2026
Definition of smashing

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tearing
tearing down
tearing into
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Cite this Entry

“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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