1
as in to destroy
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces
developers demolished the old warehouse to make room for the new shopping mall
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2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
most of the buildings in the town had been demolished in the bombing raid
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3
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
terrorists used a powerful pipe bomb to demolish the concrete wall around the compound
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolish
General Motors is preparing to move out, and an ambitious redevelopment vision that would involve demolishing two RenCen towers is said to hinge on a commitment of public financing support — one that hasn't been forthcoming so far.
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Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
His photography studio, not far away, was demolished.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
The video features Drake in a celebratory mood, rocking all his famous jewelry while the same model van from the cover of Kendrick’s Good Kid, Mad City gets taken to a junkyard and demolished.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
As Emily and Sean grow closer, the crew faces a challenge when a wealthy developer (who happens to be Emily's father), Bill Anderson (Peter Gallagher), plans to demolish their historic neighborhood and build luxury properties in their place.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demolish 
Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
His photography studio, not far away, was demolished.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
The video features Drake in a celebratory mood, rocking all his famous jewelry while the same model van from the cover of Kendrick’s Good Kid, Mad City gets taken to a junkyard and demolished.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
As Emily and Sean grow closer, the crew faces a challenge when a wealthy developer (who happens to be Emily's father), Bill Anderson (Peter Gallagher), plans to demolish their historic neighborhood and build luxury properties in their place.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolish
Verb
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Some 12,000 structures — buildings and cars — have been destroyed so far, and with them many tons of property of all levels of sentimental meaning.Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025
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This year, however, will be a much more muted affair, as the Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed thousands of homes, killed 25 people and forced more than 150,000 residents to evacuate.Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
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Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With Houston shattering records at San Diego High School and Wiggins starring at La Jolla Country Day, the two made America’s Finest City the nation’s premier destination for women’s college basketball recruiters in 2004.Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
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An ugly ownership dispute spilled into public view this week, throwing the San Diego Padres into turmoil, shattering the quiet that defined their winter and raising questions about how the resulting uncertainty will affect the operation of the team.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Like many Denver neighborhoods, West Colfax, Sloan’s Lake and Jefferson Park have also seen significant change, with older single-story houses razed and replaced with multilevel modern homes.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 5 Jan. 2025
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Santa Ana winds last month helped propel the Mountain fire, which razed 243 buildings and damaged dozens more in Camarillo and other communities in western Ventura County.Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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What Happened in Hawaii? In August 2023, the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, on the northwest coast of the island of Maui, was devastated by a raging wildfire which killed 102 people and displaced thousands.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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Our friends and our neighbors have lost homes, and entire communities have been devastated, and there’s still more work to do.Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That was a record handle, smashing the previous year’s Super Bowl wagering in the state by $32 million.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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That smashed the government’s forecast of 6.5% growth for the year, as well as last year’s growth figure of 5.05%. Exports, driven by electronics, smartphones, and garments, grew 14.3% in 2024 to reach $405.5 billion, and that helped drive Vietnam’s growth.Alena Botros, Fortune Asia, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For so long, the Steelers needed Watt to put on his cape and wreck a game to steal a win against a top-tier opponent.Mike DeFabo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Glasses, eyewear repair kits and gold cleaning equipment were wrecked.Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Credit them with winning 10 games although losing three of their last four and blowing a chance to win the ACC championship and get into the playoff put a huge damper on the season.Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
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Chalamet stars in the Bob Dylan biopic and does his own singing, guitar playing, and harmonica blowing and sucking.Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Demolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolish. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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