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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Holy Innocents School posted on Facebook that the school’s church hall was broken into and destroyed.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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The structure was destroyed during World War II and numerous frescoes were lost in raids, according to Jubilee 2025.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the festival officially exits Utah, word is it’s getting demolished.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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AdventHealth bought the property in 2021; its buildings were demolished in 2023.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 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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After being questioned by his parents, the boy said a man had pulled down his pants.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
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Jordan Shaw scored 13 points, while Sammy Childs chipped in with seven points and Reginald Johnson pulled down seven rebounds.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
23 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
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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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She was shattered by thoughts of all the father-and-son moments Carlos and Alessandro had missed — things like girlfriend issues.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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Don’t forget Knueppel is already the fastest player to reach 100 made career 3-pointers, establishing the impressive mark 12 games quicker than Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, who held the record until Knueppel shattered it.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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California lawmakers proposed $90 million in new funding for Planned Parenthood and reproductive health providers devastated by federal defunding.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Stan, devastated by their betrayal, still can't quite wrap his head around it.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn%20down. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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