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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of torn down
The mansion is protected by a conservation easement with the Missouri Preservation Society, protecting the house and a one-foot radius around it from being torn down.
—
Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
The storms damaged almost 500 houses and have torn down trees and power lines in their path, according to Sky News.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Two other YMCAs have also closed and have gone on to be torn down in recent years.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Long-time residents may recall that there once were three single-family homes along Glen Flora Avenue and a cleaners before they were torn down for parking spaces.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The club’s original home at Griffith Park was torn down to build an equestrian center for the 1984 Olympics.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The coliseum site is just beginning to be reused after being torn down in ’07.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
The plan would be to keep the fish house operating, but with protections to keep it from being torn down or renovated into something unrecognizable.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026
The shuttered Chez Artiste movie theater in Denver’s University Hills neighborhood may be torn down.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
The storms damaged almost 500 houses and have torn down trees and power lines in their path, according to Sky News.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Two other YMCAs have also closed and have gone on to be torn down in recent years.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Long-time residents may recall that there once were three single-family homes along Glen Flora Avenue and a cleaners before they were torn down for parking spaces.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The club’s original home at Griffith Park was torn down to build an equestrian center for the 1984 Olympics.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The coliseum site is just beginning to be reused after being torn down in ’07.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
The plan would be to keep the fish house operating, but with protections to keep it from being torn down or renovated into something unrecognizable.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026
The shuttered Chez Artiste movie theater in Denver’s University Hills neighborhood may be torn down.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn down
Verb
-
It was moved a day later to a naval base on the mainland for inspection and the explosives were later destroyed, according to Greece’s public broadcaster, ERT.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
The surge triggered severe erosion, damaged the powerhouse and nearby switchyards, washed debris into the North Yuba River and destroyed portions of Lake Francis Road.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The facility was demolished in 1960 to make way for a city water plant extension.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2026
-
The house was set to be demolished after Sprague died, but instead it was purchased and partially restored by Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt in the 1960s.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
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And then to add insult to that heaping helping of figurative injury, the nachos took some collateral damage and were effectively ruined.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Coffey and Kayla McBride each pulled down eight rebounds apiece.—
Twin Cities,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
-
By the next day, Google had pulled down the offending videos.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Plant life may manifest at your table scorched, deep-fried, pickled, smoked, stuffed, smashed or otherwise pushed to extremes.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Windows were smashed and an ATM was stolen at an overnight break-in at the Beetle Bar and Grill in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Tel should have been Tottenham’s hero but a bizarre decision in the second half wrecked their chances of winning at home for the first time since December.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Bubba, by the way, was actually wrecked later in the race by John Hunter Nemechek.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Upon arrival, police discovered Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door ajar.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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The same district whose tragedy nearly shattered a community, yet set in place the lives — good or bad, right or wrong — and legacies that followed.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Kim, 42, said she's devastated for her daughter and upset that her seizures were initially brushed off before the cardiac arrest occurred.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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The deadly fires that devastated homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena also laid waste to a lush canopy of leaves and pine needles that had cooled and shaded residents here for generations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn%20down. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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