demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən 

ˌdē-mə-

1

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction in war by means of explosives

2

demolitions plural : explosives for destruction in war

demolitionist

ˌde-mə-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəst 

ˌdē-mə-

noun

Synonyms

• annihilation
• decimation
• demolishment
• desolation
• destruction
• devastation
• extermination
• extinction
• havoc
• loss
• mincemeat
• obliteration
• ruin
• ruination
• wastage
• wreckage

Examples of demolition in a Sentence

The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week.

The demolitions should be complete by the end of the year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The state is providing the district with $15 million for environmental cleanup and demolition of buildings on the property. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024

To save Clare House from demolition, the Gilbert Historical Museum aimed to raise $135,000 to relocate it, but as of October, only $26,437 had been collected. —Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024

New satellite images reveal North Korea has dug large trenches across road and rail links with South Korea, following Oct. 15 demolitions of cross-border infrastructure near Kaesong and another site on the peninsula's eastern coast. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

David Tendler, deliberate and even-keeled, recommends an aggressive response and files an immediate TRO, or Temporary Restraining Order, forcing Han to stop his demolition. —Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēmōlītiōn-, dēmōlītiō, from dēmōlīrī "to throw down, pull down, demolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing demolition

• demolition derby

Kids Definition

demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌdem-ə-ˈlish-ən 

ˌdē-mə-

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction by means of explosives