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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tore down
Piepenbrink encouraged people to visit the Crete Township Community Center on Cottage Grove Avenue and Monee Road to view photos from a 1952 fire that tore down the Balmoral Park grandstand during renovations.
—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
The president's team also repaired fountains throughout the city, tore down the White House's East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for renovations, and drew up plans for a gigantic triumphal arch across the river from the capital in Virginia.
—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
The properties sit across a cove from where Michael Jordan once tore down his own mansion (presumably to build a bigger one — as one does).
—
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Protesters tore down and disabled enforcement cameras and painted the policy as a civil liberties issue.
—
Justin Worland,
Time,
3 June 2026
Clashes intensified this weekend as police with riot shields and officers on horseback pushed back demonstrators, some of whom tore down barricades, hurled objects and set tires ablaze outside the 1,000-bed facility.
—
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
About that view from the East Wing Nine months after Jill Biden moved out of the White House, construction crews tore down the East Wing.
—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Attendance diminished in recent years as the Wizards tore down their roster in the hopes of accumulating draft picks in trades and losing enough games to win early picks via the annual draft lottery.
—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
In October, the White House tore down its East Wing to make room for a $400 million ballroom.
—
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
The president's team also repaired fountains throughout the city, tore down the White House's East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for renovations, and drew up plans for a gigantic triumphal arch across the river from the capital in Virginia.
—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
The properties sit across a cove from where Michael Jordan once tore down his own mansion (presumably to build a bigger one — as one does).
—
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Protesters tore down and disabled enforcement cameras and painted the policy as a civil liberties issue.
—
Justin Worland,
Time,
3 June 2026
Clashes intensified this weekend as police with riot shields and officers on horseback pushed back demonstrators, some of whom tore down barricades, hurled objects and set tires ablaze outside the 1,000-bed facility.
—
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
About that view from the East Wing Nine months after Jill Biden moved out of the White House, construction crews tore down the East Wing.
—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Attendance diminished in recent years as the Wizards tore down their roster in the hopes of accumulating draft picks in trades and losing enough games to win early picks via the annual draft lottery.
—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
In October, the White House tore down its East Wing to make room for a $400 million ballroom.
—
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore down
Verb
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The second inferno killed 12 people, destroyed 6,500 structures across the Palisades and Malibu and cost billions in damage and insurance claims.
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In Paradise, California, a community destroyed by wildfire adopted the ‘Wildfire Prepared Home Standard’ as its mandatory rebuilding benchmark.
Verb
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The Bills’ former stadium, called Highmark Stadium, is in the process of being demolished.
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But a landmark designation could take about nine months and ultimately buildings can still be demolished, under state law.
Verb
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Its front-facing design deters pickpockets, while the water-resistant fabric protects your phone from surprise downpours or sweaty adventure days—because no one wants their phone ruined halfway through a trip.
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In practice, organic liquids like crude oil ruined everything.
Verb
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South Korea’s Kospi dropped a breathtaking 10%, pulled down by double-digit losses for chip makers Samsung and SK Hynix.
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The next day, August 22, a crowd gathered in front of the headquarters of the KGB and pulled down a giant statue of its founder, Felix Dzerzhinsky.
Verb
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Carelessness and accidents happen, however, so take some time with each season to go through items and toss anything that’s faded, shattered, or stopped working.
-
His remaining leg was shattered.
Verb
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In the history of mankind, socialist success stories are as rare as triple plays in baseball, but plenty of countries have been wrecked by it — Venezuela and Cuba, to name just two.
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My polishing pads are always getting wrecked, used, or stolen by my dog (or all of those things).
Verb
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Earlier that day, Contreras had broken down in tears while talking about the deadly earthquakes that devastated his native Venezuela.
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Carr, who has spent decades documenting South Florida's Indigenous history, said the region's Native population had been devastated long before the American Revolution.
Verb
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Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
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The van’s windows were smashed and a lone orange traffic cone sat on the hood.
Cite this Entry
“Tore down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore%20down. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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