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
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
Both parties face conversations on whether achieving prosperity involves reforming or tearing down the system.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 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
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
Both parties face conversations on whether achieving prosperity involves reforming or tearing down the system.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 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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The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari and crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, ruining a chance to nab a good haul of points.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Glassdoor report doesn’t dive into that, but FlexJobs tackled the topic in January, finding that nurse practitioner was the top remote side hustle for 2024, pulling down $56 an hour.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
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An impact player on both sides of the ball from Day 1, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound all-state pick is back for a third varsity letter after reeling in 37 balls for 674 yards on offense and pulling down two more passes for picks on defense.—
Matt Schubert,
Denver Post,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kahani’s work is of a piece with that of bigger-name compatriots like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof in its protest against the Iranian government, though his droll-to-devastating approach is very much his own.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 Aug. 2025
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Additionally, deadly waves of violent extremism in places like Nigeria and India are devastating whole communities and going unchecked.—
Miles P. J. Windsor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the table fell behind Cenat, shattering into pieces, the streamer looked behind him, cut the music, and asked his friends to fess up.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sophomore, who is the youngest player ever voted captain under coach Jay Norvell, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Huskies with a game-high 13 tackles.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
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For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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