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
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
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
Demolition crews have begun tearing down the East Wing of the White House, clearing ground for a 90,000-square foot ballroom in the biggest White House expansion in more than 70 years.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
While there have been reports of unpermitted construction that was halted and the tearing down of some buildings at Monster Lake, Pam Filtner noted in the Cowboy State Daily that the Bighorn Ranch structures have thankfully remained intact.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
An Illinois State University faculty member was arrested after he was accused of flipping a Turning Point USA student group's table and tearing down promotional flyers on campus last week.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
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
Demolition crews have begun tearing down the East Wing of the White House, clearing ground for a 90,000-square foot ballroom in the biggest White House expansion in more than 70 years.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
While there have been reports of unpermitted construction that was halted and the tearing down of some buildings at Monster Lake, Pam Filtner noted in the Cowboy State Daily that the Bighorn Ranch structures have thankfully remained intact.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
An Illinois State University faculty member was arrested after he was accused of flipping a Turning Point USA student group's table and tearing down promotional flyers on campus last week.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing down
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Most recently, crews began demolishing the East Wing of the White House.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Clark reiterated his belief that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Last year’s devastating drought in the Amazon Basin was made 30 times more likely by climate change, according to a report from World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists that analyze extreme weather events.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Earlier this year, California’s devastating Eaton Fire destroyed much of Altadena, a diverse, creative community just north of Pasadena.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When a world-shattering event turns most of the global population into a friendly hive mind, Carol sets out to protect her individuality.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After those rules are broken, the gremlin spawns more of its kind and end up wrecking havoc on Billy’s hometown during Christmas.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Within a few years of leaving Texas, Rauschenberg had upended everything the place had meant to him, smashing through the parochialism of small-town Southern life, where necks were broken in Jesus’ name, and families indentured or murdered.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The role would typically involve smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow before sending the vessel out on its maiden voyage.—
Mackenzie Schmidt,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing%20down. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share