as in wrecking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in destroying
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruining
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shattering
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolishing
Sam Blum, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
His endless highlight reel will be one of the lasting stories of the 2024 college football season — a sledgehammer in shoulder pads, demolishing defenders in his path.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
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.
—Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
Blight reversal is more than demolishing buildings, Cusato said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Dec. 2024
City officials eventually began extensive repairs, including demolishing a restaurant at the end of the wharf — which became part of the section that was washed away this week.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
On Monday, San Antonio ISD approved a non-binding agreement to sell land for the ballpark development, clearing the way for plans that include demolishing the nearby Soap Factory Apartments, a controversial move that will displace residents.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
The project involves demolishing a great deal of real estate.
—David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
They were made by each other by reverently mythologizing their history while also irreverently demolishing it to make way for whatever was new and next, like a postwar building that’s periodically renovated to keep up with trends.
—David Lachapelle, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Which program will pay the most for the valuable service of demolishing them?
—Sam Blum, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
His endless highlight reel will be one of the lasting stories of the 2024 college football season — a sledgehammer in shoulder pads, demolishing defenders in his path.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
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.
—Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
Blight reversal is more than demolishing buildings, Cusato said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Dec. 2024
City officials eventually began extensive repairs, including demolishing a restaurant at the end of the wharf — which became part of the section that was washed away this week.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
On Monday, San Antonio ISD approved a non-binding agreement to sell land for the ballpark development, clearing the way for plans that include demolishing the nearby Soap Factory Apartments, a controversial move that will displace residents.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
The project involves demolishing a great deal of real estate.
—David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
They were made by each other by reverently mythologizing their history while also irreverently demolishing it to make way for whatever was new and next, like a postwar building that’s periodically renovated to keep up with trends.
—David Lachapelle, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishing
Verb
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The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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Records say Hollis sought help after Richard, having abused drugs and not slept for four days, went into a rage, tearing the house apart and destroying furniture.—
Carol Marbin,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The path of destruction stretched about 11 miles in the city outside Tulsa, and radar indicated a possible tornado had formed, according to a statement from city government.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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On March 28, an individual who had been missing since Helene's destruction was found and identified as 66-year-old Russell Wilber, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Wednesday.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The county’s preliminary plan calls for razing it, except for the portion where the supervisors hold their public meetings.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Jan. 2025
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The changes appeared to respond to concerns about how razing the trees could reduce shade and carbon capture and storage.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This prequel flashes back to a previous Christmas in Los Angeles, when their unintentional destruction of a Santa Claus parade balloon put the city on edge, wrecking the gang's plans for a massive Yuletide bank robbery.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 Dec. 2024
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The vocalist’s sole concerns related to the natural environment, the animal kingdom and humankind’s responsibility for wrecking our only home.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Simply put, their acts are a desecration of the pursuit of knowledge.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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To Michael Hirsch, the desecration of hundreds of graves was a shanda, a shame, a ghoulish crime.—
Maria Cramer,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But, alas, the senseless ravages of CIS have claimed yet another innocent victim.—
Mike Bianchi,
Orlando Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
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The price of eggs has soared over recent months as the bird flu pandemic ravages flocks and crimps supply.—
Ben Berkowitz,
Axios,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The sense of ruination experienced by the organizers of those art spaces was something familiar to Quraiqi, who wrote on his Instagram this year that Israeli forces had destroyed his studio.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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Read: The mysterious, meteoric rise of Shein In the past several years, cultural awareness has grown about the reality of the fast-fashion business model, which relies on paying factory workers shockingly low wages and takes a multifaceted approach to furthering the ruination of the planet.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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