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
One video showing people tearing down a billboard image of Maduro dates as far back as July 2024.
—
Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2026
Security video captured the moment a Corvette came down the street, tires screeching, before slamming into the property, tearing down the fence, damaging a boat and smashing through concrete.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Thune has consistently opposed tearing down the filibuster.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
In a special Halloween episode, Trump tearing down the East Wing unleashes a vengeful spirit, leading members of his administration to hold a seance.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Among strong Trump disapprovers, 82% strongly oppose tearing down the East Wing and building a ballroom, while a much smaller 37% of those who somewhat disapprove of the president strongly oppose the plan.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
And the visual manifestation of that may just be tearing down the East Wing of the White House.
—NBC news, 26 Oct. 2025
For the first time since general manager Joe Cronin began tearing down a playoff roster five years ago, the team is competent.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2026
Security video captured the moment a Corvette came down the street, tires screeching, before slamming into the property, tearing down the fence, damaging a boat and smashing through concrete.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Thune has consistently opposed tearing down the filibuster.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
In a special Halloween episode, Trump tearing down the East Wing unleashes a vengeful spirit, leading members of his administration to hold a seance.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Among strong Trump disapprovers, 82% strongly oppose tearing down the East Wing and building a ballroom, while a much smaller 37% of those who somewhat disapprove of the president strongly oppose the plan.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
And the visual manifestation of that may just be tearing down the East Wing of the White House.
—NBC news, 26 Oct. 2025
For the first time since general manager Joe Cronin began tearing down a playoff roster five years ago, the team is competent.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing down
Verb
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And candidates who stoked fear in voters — with the threat of towering multi-family complexes destroying their communities or costly local infrastructure projects driving up taxes — lost by clear margins.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Derek Lopez, 27, was fired from his role at the university after he was caught on camera destroying a Turning Point display.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
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Most recently, crews began demolishing the East Wing of the White House.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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The video then shows the man asking if the situation was ruining Kaleel's Christmas.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Weiss began pulling down as much as $150,000 per engagement, a point of contention in the pro-Israel space, where advocates give speeches for free.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
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Many airlines are pulling down their operations at Newark, Bastian said, which reduces some of the congestion at the airport.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Scenario two is that Harbaugh is leveraging the Giants’ rabid interest but ultimately could take a different job, devastating this desperate fan base.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.—
Jake Scott,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The one that is responsible, once and for all, for fixing a defense that’s been complicit in wrecking three straight seasons of Burrow, Chase and Higgins.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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And can interest be reduced without wrecking your financial future?—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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The man accused of smashing windows on Vice President JD Vance's home with a hammer is facing separate prosecutions in state and federal court.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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