1
as in to destroy
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 to demolish
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 tear down
Bleachers have been removed and replaced with VIP seating areas, a video scoreboard was installed and the old Marlboro Man ad in center field — a popular home run target — was torn down years ago.
—
Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
The cricket ground was torn down immediately after the tournament, but billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the owner of MI New York in the MLC, reportedly has plans to build a world-class facility in the famous city.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
The house was previously purchased in 2013 for $5.5 million before being torn down and rebuilt by local firm Robert Gurney Architect.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
Due to set up, the weekend-long event and tear down, avoid these streets beginning April 7 until April 14:
Main Street from Weatherford to 9th Street.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
The cricket ground was torn down immediately after the tournament, but billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the owner of MI New York in the MLC, reportedly has plans to build a world-class facility in the famous city.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
The house was previously purchased in 2013 for $5.5 million before being torn down and rebuilt by local firm Robert Gurney Architect.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
Due to set up, the weekend-long event and tear down, avoid these streets beginning April 7 until April 14:
Main Street from Weatherford to 9th Street.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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The gangs have resumed kidnappings, while burning hospitals and destroying schools.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
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Eventually, the artwork was destroyed.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Purdy put his reporter’s hat back on and dug up that the 38 S. Fifth St. house — which would have sat in the plaza just south of the city council chambers — was demolished after an arson fire damaged it beyond repair.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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In Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, residents said the Israeli military demolished more homes in the city, which has all come under Israeli control in the past days in what Israeli leaders said was an expansion of security zones in Gaza to put more pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Justin Champagnie hit a 3-pointer, the Heat had a backcourt violation and then Carrington ruined Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 40-point game by dropping this dagger on him.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The best ones have an attachment mechanism that is hard to pull down, so babies don’t accidentally hurt themselves.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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Golden State ranks fifth in the NBA in total rebounds, pulling down 45.5 per game, with Kevon Looney leading the way at 6.2 boards per contest.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Trump and Musk are truly onions made of glass: shiny orbs of one insubstantial layer over another, with nothing in the center, liable to be shattered under the slightest pressure.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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And amid the challenges, there’s a growing push for transparency in the beauty industry, especially as entrepreneurs are speaking out more about the realities of running a business, shattering the illusion of effortless success.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Three days prior, Dale Earnhardt, the sport’s superhero and antihero and transcendent phenom all in one, wrecked into the wall on Turn 4 on the last lap of the Daytona 500.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2025
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The architectural vandalism was hideous and heartbreaking to watch, inhumane civic renewal by wrecking ball in the discredited vein of Robert Moses.—
Frank Rich,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most Canadians recognize that an all-out trade war would devastate their economy.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Amanda Seyfried stars in this limited series as a police officer investigating the murders of three young women in a Philadelphia neighborhood devastated by opioid addiction.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kamikaze sank their first ship on Oct. 25, 1944, when a navy Zero pilot smashed into the USS St. Lo in the Philippine Sea while carrying a pair of 550-pound bombs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Raphinha gets the ball in space and smashes home from the edge of the box.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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