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
Relevance
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
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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
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
Verb
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Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
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But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
Verb
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Digital Realty already began demolishing the inside of the building, so Gray believed the agreement was set.
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But everyday people expressed their political outrage time and again, throwing rocks at and demolishing the houses of government officials, torching the king’s ships and forts and, eventually, marching to battle.
Verb
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After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
-
The company was saving a few bucks but ruining its product.
Verb
-
Habib Diarra headed them in front after four minutes and when Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off after 18 minutes for pulling down Sadio Mane, who would have been through on goal, Senegal had a great opportunity to do so.
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Good to see that the additional stock supply isn’t pulling down the market.
Verb
-
The co-writer thing was a total disaster, devastating on every level.
-
One week after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, relief efforts in South Florida continue at a steady pace.
Verb
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SoCal’s housing market growth SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has unleashed a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.
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At the very least, the attacks have brought the war home even more poignantly for millions of Russians, shattering Putin’s narrative of the conflict as something that doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people in his country.
Verb
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The blaze remained confined to the wrecking yard property, despite briefly jumping a fence and igniting vegetation to the west.
-
The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray.
Verb
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Djokovic became so frustrated that he was given a code violation warning for smashing a racket, before eventually hauling himself over the line.
-
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan joined in the fun Friday, serving and smashing with a paddle in a San Jose Earthquakes jersey.
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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