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 torn down
Canty salvages the wallpaper, her main material, from houses being remodeled or torn down.
—
Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Marketing for the property describes it as a redevelopment opportunity, implying that it will be torn down.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 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
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
Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Marketing for the property describes it as a redevelopment opportunity, implying that it will be torn down.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 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
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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The storm that destroyed the home of Shaun and Karen Powers hit three months after the phone call that put an end to Coppermark’s strategy of flooding the insurance department with complaints.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Damaged beyond repair, the building was permanently closed and later demolished.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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After the closure of Toni’s Italian Restaurant’s Olathe location last year, city planning documents show the restaurant’s former building will soon be demolished alongside a handful of other buildings, as the city gears up for an ambitious overhaul of East Santa Fe Street.—
Kendrick Calfee
Updated February 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jennifer Bartholomew says her mother's apartment got power restored Tuesday, but all of the contents of her refrigerator were ruined.—
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Laminate flooring has some water resistance, but the core layer can quickly get ruined if water reaches it.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An upper stage sprang a leak of liquid oxygen during a Starlink launch on July 11, 2024, causing the satellites to be deployed too low; they were soon pulled down into Earth's atmosphere by drag.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Cearah Parchment had her third consecutive 20-point game and pulled down 10 rebounds to help Illinois secure the win.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For some reason, Scott got so hyped up during his performance that the rapper all of a sudden turned to the Fanatics sign on the wall behind him and smashed it, according to TMZ.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The cars, about 20 of them, had their windows smashed and looked as though they were made in the 1940s or 1950s.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The front lobby of Unicoi County Hospital was wrecked by devastating flooding during Hurricane Helene in 2024.—
Brett Kelman,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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That general manager wrecked the team.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Richarlison had just scored, and all of the momentum was with Spurs, but Romero’s dismissal shattered their chances of finding an equaliser.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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That tranquility was shattered when deputies with the Sheriff's Department had journalists leave the area and blocked off streets with deputies and traffic cones.—
Sarah Lapidus,
AZCentral.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The synthetic opioid is far more potent than heroin and has devastated communities across the country.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Residents report the actual death toll exceeds 162, with villages devastated and survivors fleeing as government security forces faced criticism for delayed response.—
Pelumi Salako,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn%20down. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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