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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of tore down
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
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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Termessos was believed to have been destroyed by an earthquake the exact date of which is not known, but possibly the 4th or 5th century.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
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As of this year, almost all of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed.—
Ghada Abdulfattah,
The Atlantic,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, with three seconds left in the game, Davis delivered the signature play that demolished the narrative that’s shadowed his career.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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His jersey hung in his locker untouched at the old Busch Stadium until it was demolished in 2005.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So only one overwhelmed person at a time was allowed to weep when daily frustrations piled up, like barely being able to keep up with a busy lunch crowd or when the aluminum on the bottom of the pan burned and ruined the custard, forcing them to throw it away and waste dozens of eggs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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The area became a dangerous crossing for hikers after the bridge at Rimrock Lake outlet was ruined in a 2022 flood, rescuers said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Canales credited the Cardinals (2-0) for changing their coverage late to account for rookie Tetairoa McMillan, the former Arizona star who pulled down six passes for 100 yards while playing about two hours from his college stomping grounds.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Videos are pulled down and domains are blocked.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For DeCesare’s family, that minute — when a man walked into a restaurant with a handgun and decided to open fire — shattered them.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
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Next door, at Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese, a single jar of sundried tomatoes fell from a shelf and shattered.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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America will be watching Monday night’s early game, perhaps in much the same way traffic can’t help but slow to watch two cars that have just wrecked.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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The crash marks the second time a vehicle wrecked into a dentist’s office in the Kansas City metro this week.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That includes the burn zone of the Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 6,000 homes and devastated the community of Altadena.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
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Her journey has brought her to Cloonboo, a town devastated by the Great Famine that ravaged the land between 1845 and 1852.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Glass and brick litter the sidewalk outside of a dentist office in northeast Kansas City after a pickup truck smashed into it early Wednesday morning.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
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Shane got on top of him and smashed his head on the floor, again and again, knocking Stefan unconscious.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tore down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore%20down. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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