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
July 11 Excision Without Broomfield’s FirstBank Center to fill (that EDM-favorite venue was recently torn down), this electronic-music heavyweight is turning to a pair of nights at Fiddler’s — with a potential 36,000 fans in attendance across both shows.
—
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2025
Spence said Casey’s plans to tear down and replace the existing fence, but did not say at what height.
—Marie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
As a result, homes and municipal buildings have aged and deteriorated but were not torn down and replaced.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
And by treating global affairs like a transactional hustle, the United States risks tearing down the very system that has kept the peace for generations.
—Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2025
Spence said Casey’s plans to tear down and replace the existing fence, but did not say at what height.
—Marie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
As a result, homes and municipal buildings have aged and deteriorated but were not torn down and replaced.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
And by treating global affairs like a transactional hustle, the United States risks tearing down the very system that has kept the peace for generations.
—Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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During the week of my embed, the Russian military identified and destroyed a few of the Vampire pilots’ positions.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2025
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The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea from a group of Native American activists and supporters to block a copper mining company from destroying an Apache religious site.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Facing greater competition and sensing more opportunity, the owners decided to close the hotel at the end of May and demolish the building next year.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2025
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Its current office building in the area would be demolished.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2025
Verb
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There were missions that felt like a rally racing mini-game, asking me to navigate between timer-extending rings dotting barren desert ruins.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
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The situation took a turn when Amy accidentally ruined her earbuds in the wash.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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In the cable, first reported by POLITICO, Rubio said appointments that have already been scheduled can proceed under the current guidelines, but available appointments not already taken should be pulled down.—
Humeyra Pamuk,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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Hagen, for his part, worries about liability for the neighborhood association if something goes wrong — in an extreme case, for example, if people protesting against a flag accidentally pull down a pole and injure someone.—
Sarah A. Miller,
Idaho Statesman,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Whatever credibility the report might have had as a product of a federal agency was shattered by its obvious errors, misrepresentations and outright fabrications of source materials, some of it plainly the product of the authors’ reliance on AI bots.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
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In 1985, Michael Jordan shattered a backboard during a dunk in a summer exhibition game against the Italian team Stefanel Trieste.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
Verb
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During testimony, Lance Jimenez of the Los Angeles Fire Department recalled a 2012 incident in which an explosion wrecked a Porsche owned by Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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Walls were wrecked by artillery blasts and gunfire.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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The famed Pacific Coast Highway, State Route 1, has been closed since Jan. 7, 2025 as a result of the Palisades Fire which devastated the surrounding community.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025
Verb
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That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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He’s often found smashing things in the name of justice but can still be angered easily if things don’t go his way.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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