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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of torn down
Students were relocated for this school year so the old campus could be torn down and replaced by a new school, a process made more complicated by the need to safely remove asbestos and lead paint from the site.
—
Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
If Manley is successful in buying the property, and after Beckman Coulter leaves, all the buildings would be torn down and a Costco would be built there.
—Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Caruso said the ruins should be torn down.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Preserve heritage Carranza and the neighbors were concerned about a 101-year-old home being torn down and the more than 10 trees surrounding the property.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
In the early 1970s, all the buildings in the two blocks just north and east of the Stadium Arena were torn down, according to the Stock Show, including a three-story horse barn, the Hollis and Platt cattle barn, the Lamont Pavilion, and the Burlington Railroad warehouse.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
When police and municipal authorities came to count the people who would need to be resettled and whose homes would need be torn down, residents did not cooperate.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.
—Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Once demolition got underway, Jonathan updated that the entire East Wing was torn down in two days.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025
Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
If Manley is successful in buying the property, and after Beckman Coulter leaves, all the buildings would be torn down and a Costco would be built there.
—Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Caruso said the ruins should be torn down.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Preserve heritage Carranza and the neighbors were concerned about a 101-year-old home being torn down and the more than 10 trees surrounding the property.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
In the early 1970s, all the buildings in the two blocks just north and east of the Stadium Arena were torn down, according to the Stock Show, including a three-story horse barn, the Hollis and Platt cattle barn, the Lamont Pavilion, and the Burlington Railroad warehouse.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
When police and municipal authorities came to count the people who would need to be resettled and whose homes would need be torn down, residents did not cooperate.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.
—Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Once demolition got underway, Jonathan updated that the entire East Wing was torn down in two days.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn down
Verb
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Well, Federer just destroyed him — 6-1, 6-4 in about 50 minutes — and that left a lot of time to fill.—
Patrick McEnroe,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The fire killed two people, destroyed 1,084 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion in property damage.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The apartments will replace a vacant lot that once held Community Christian Church, which was demolished in 2022.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
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Israel has demolished more than 2,500 buildings in Gaza since the cease-fire began, according to a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery from Planet Labs.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Frankly, this ruined my birthday for me for the next forty years.—
Gaby Iori
January 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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Knowing what not to wash together can save plenty of headaches (and ruined garments and linens) down the line.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Syrian government forces moved in to secure the camp a day later but, in the meantime, fences had been pulled down and dozens of prisoners had escaped.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
23 Jan. 2026
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Ezra Ausar added 17 points and Jacob Cofie pulled down 12 rebounds to go with nine points.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pageau smashed home his second goal late in the third to finish off a listless Flyers team.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Cook 3 garlic cloves, smashed, ⅓ cup mild honey, ⅓ cup white wine vinegar, 3 Tbsp.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then her son wrecked her Acura.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Having to face Williams, who routinely wrecked the line of scrimmage against the Texans, would be a heck of a welcome back.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the small-town-like tranquility that runs deep through this city of neighborhoods has been shattered in recent weeks.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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According to the police report, Boise Police Officer Cameron Kolos approached Galane and Idaho Potato Drop CEO Dylan Cline after the fireworks show, informing them that the windows at the AT&T building had shattered.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When 30-year-old Youssif Naim went missing earlier this month, leading to a community-wide search that ended when his body was found near Hines Park, like many others, Yasmeen Hamed was devastated.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Needless to say, at this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic news.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn%20down. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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