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
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Recent Examples of tearing down
Construction, which involves tearing down two, 1980s-era office buildings to make room for hundreds of apartments, is expected to start this spring.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
City leaders are set to begin tearing down the building on Thursday afternoon at 5655 Old National Highway.
—Cbs News Atlanta Staff, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
While outreach workers will be hitting homeless encampments throughout the city, encouraging people to go to shelters during the storm, the city will not be tearing down the makeshift shanties the homeless have built before Sunday’s storm, Mamdani said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Instead of tearing down the brick, crews constructed internal walls to keep the outside brick facade through historical preservation techniques.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Just over a year ago in Syria, when Bashar al-Assad’s rule ended, demonstrations of joy erupted all over the country and in many cases focused on tearing down images of him and his father.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
On Thursday morning, fire department trucks were tearing down the affected side of the building, which was entirely blackened and hollowed out from the flames.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Four men escaped the facility by tearing down one of the building’s walls.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 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
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
City leaders are set to begin tearing down the building on Thursday afternoon at 5655 Old National Highway.
—Cbs News Atlanta Staff, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
While outreach workers will be hitting homeless encampments throughout the city, encouraging people to go to shelters during the storm, the city will not be tearing down the makeshift shanties the homeless have built before Sunday’s storm, Mamdani said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Instead of tearing down the brick, crews constructed internal walls to keep the outside brick facade through historical preservation techniques.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Just over a year ago in Syria, when Bashar al-Assad’s rule ended, demonstrations of joy erupted all over the country and in many cases focused on tearing down images of him and his father.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
On Thursday morning, fire department trucks were tearing down the affected side of the building, which was entirely blackened and hollowed out from the flames.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Four men escaped the facility by tearing down one of the building’s walls.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing down
Verb
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One woman, in her 30s, had been hit by bird shot at close range, destroying the roof of her mouth and the area around her nose and below her eyes, the surgeon recalled.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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On Monday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order that presumably prevents the defendants from altering or destroying any evidence at the refinery.—
Patrick Danner,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The city kicked in $8 million in tax credits, grants, and loans, buying the land and demolishing the building that had stood on it.—
Bryce Covert,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Feb. 2026
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The next phase includes demolishing the former office area of the reactor and portions of its outer structure.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The White House believed that that Iran was intentionally ruining the Mideast peace process, and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich had called Iran the most dangerous nation on Earth.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Trying to gather gossip under her own byline didn't work as well, and the new mom was also started to have ethical qualms about her work of ruining the reputations of women and men in the 'ton.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On social media, some have been seen pulling down his statues.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2026
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Towering Second Baptist 6-foot-10 sophomore Kaiden Smith wreaked havoc in the middle, pulling down 18 rebounds and altering multiple shots.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Los Angeles County district attorney is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for its actions in last year’s devastating Eaton wildfire, which killed 19 people and left thousands of families homeless, the company said Wednesday.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There was the notable exception of Kyle Tucker batting second, a little reminder that the winner of the last two World Series, and the franchise that is shattering payroll and luxury tax records in the process, managed to add another All-Star bat at an average value of $60 million per season.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
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At the same time, the Intermountain West has suffered through a record-shattering snow drought and exceedingly warm conditions that will have critical implications to water availability in the region this year.—
Naema Ahmed,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Listed at 6-3 and 315 pounds, the ultra-athletic Woods is the prototype for a game-wrecking defensive tackle.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
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From tiny insects like flies and butterflies at the edge of the frame, to large mountains, clouds full of rain, even great wrecking machines — everything is animated with precision and beauty.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pickleball has been smashing expectations nationwide.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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With its riveting trombone and smashing rhythms, the music exhilarated.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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