1
as in destroyed
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 demolished
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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Recent Examples of tore down
The Madison Avenue office served as JPMorgan’s temporary headquarters while 270 Park was going up (the bank tore down its old headquarters to build 270, taking advantage of the Midtown East rezoning to go bigger).
—
Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2025
Falvey and Zoll got promotions off last year’s collapse, made no big offseason moves, tore down the roster months after picking up Baldelli’s option and then fired the manager when the team predictably limped to the finish line once the front office hoisted the white flag on July 31.
—Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
There was also a large protest at UCSD on May 6, 2024, when authorities, at Khosla’s request, tore down a pro-Palestinian encampment on Library Walk, near Geisel Library.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Because under the Biden administration, the FDA tore down nearly every safety regulation surrounding the drug.
—Lila Rose, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The occupiers tore down fences, carved new roads on the reserve and posted armed guards during their 41-day occupation, former Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker wrote at the time.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
The doc by Nim Shapira focuses on the street war that broke out between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups that tore down each other’s messages about the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
James tore down the woodshed and devised a trellis system of wooden poles and metal pipes that could be expanded as the rose tree continued to grow.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2025
Falvey and Zoll got promotions off last year’s collapse, made no big offseason moves, tore down the roster months after picking up Baldelli’s option and then fired the manager when the team predictably limped to the finish line once the front office hoisted the white flag on July 31.
—Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
There was also a large protest at UCSD on May 6, 2024, when authorities, at Khosla’s request, tore down a pro-Palestinian encampment on Library Walk, near Geisel Library.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Because under the Biden administration, the FDA tore down nearly every safety regulation surrounding the drug.
—Lila Rose, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The occupiers tore down fences, carved new roads on the reserve and posted armed guards during their 41-day occupation, former Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker wrote at the time.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
The doc by Nim Shapira focuses on the street war that broke out between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups that tore down each other’s messages about the 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
James tore down the woodshed and devised a trellis system of wooden poles and metal pipes that could be expanded as the rose tree continued to grow.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore down
Verb
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Civilian infrastructure—roads, sewage, electricity, and municipal services—has been destroyed.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
-
One police cruiser was destroyed by flames and needed to be towed away from the area, officials said.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a group that represents mostly single-family homeowners and opposes nearby higher-density development, criticized the report for not tracking how many homes get demolished to make way for new projects.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
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It was finally demolished in 2008.—
Peter Carline,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in January, Preston remembered filming My Best Friend’s Wedding — and how an iconic scene ruined crab and lobster for her.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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All the beautiful lines have been ruined.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lee then pulled down his pants and attempted to force plaintiff’s head toward his genitals.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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Cornerback Darnay Holmes, suffering from a thigh cramp and desperate to return to the game in the final minutes, pulled down his uniform pants — exposing his backside — while a trainer vigorously massaged the area.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Both teams boast impressive defenses, but the Bills are coming off an embarrassing loss to a divisional rival last week that shattered hopes of an undefeated season.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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The Trojans may have shattered that superstition, improving to 7-5 all-time against the blue-blood Wolverines.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chastain, in desperation, then took his car on the final braking zone and wrecked into the 11 with the hope of passing him back.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Oct. 2025
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Brian Schottenheimer battles through injuries Heading into the game against the Jets, Schottenheimer’s offensive line was wrecked by injury.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Schools, hospitals, as well as water and electricity infrastructure have all been devastated during the two-year war from Israel’s extensive military campaign on the Gaza Strip, Amr said.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
18 Oct. 2025
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Her tour of the affected states contrasted with the response taken by her predecessor and mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, when Hurricane Otis devastated Mexico’s Pacific Coast in 2023.—
Cristopher Rogel Blanquet,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Windows were already beginning to glow with firelight when Balmer smashed another window and infiltrated the house.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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That property happened to be a $60,000 Boston police cruiser equipped with computers and other technology that was smashed and torched.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tore down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore%20down. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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