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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tear down
In a country that still struggles to confront its racist legacy, nature seems to be doing what society won’t: tearing down relics of white supremacy.
—
Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 29 May 2025
The impulse for the LPs came from Hayden hearing a fellow country singer tear down Springsteen in an interview, saying people should stop listening to him.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 17 May 2025
True innovation comes not from tearing down systems but from thoughtfully evolving them.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Too impressive to tear down, the studio saved it for other productions to rent.
—Zoe Hewitt, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 29 May 2025
The impulse for the LPs came from Hayden hearing a fellow country singer tear down Springsteen in an interview, saying people should stop listening to him.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 17 May 2025
True innovation comes not from tearing down systems but from thoughtfully evolving them.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Too impressive to tear down, the studio saved it for other productions to rent.
—Zoe Hewitt, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
-
The first move for a mistrial from Combs’ legal team occurred at the end of May, after prosecutors asked Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez if fingerprint evidence related to the bombing of Kid Cudi's car had been destroyed.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 June 2025
-
If trillion-dollar bonds are required to contest trillion-dollar damages our government is causing, that destroys the protections our Constitution provides its citizens against the rule of tyrants.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
In 2012, Texas Wesleyan went to the city’s historic and cultural landmarks commission seeking permission to demolish the home for further campus expansion, but were denied.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
-
Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Farmer’s 376-foot homer pulled down the left-field line came on Harrison’s dead-red slurve.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
11 June 2025
-
Months after ads for lactation cookies by the pregnant cookbook author Molly Baz were pulled down from Times Square for being too racy, Bobbie put a postpartum Ms. Baz back up there with her newborn latched to one breast and a can of its formula in one hand.—
Alisha Haridasani Gupta,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Windshields of cars were shattered, bulldozers were removing rubble.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
14 June 2025
-
The warheads aimed to do more than shatter concrete; they were meant to buy time, according to news reports.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
DeChambeau became the first defending champion to miss the cut at the national championship since Gary Woodland in 2020 — his round wrecked by errant drives, knucklers out of the rough and putts that would not drop.—
Apress,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
-
When the blowback from this problem child’s dodgy associations threatens to wreck her life, the everymatriarch steps in.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
The group warns that the ban on hemp products with THC would devastate legal businesses and drive demand toward the unregulated black market.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated by even the implications.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Two weeks ago, vandals threw bricks through the front office window, smashing a few items inside.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
-
Summer McIntosh’s super summer The Canadian swimming phenom made history for the second time in three days by smashing a decade-old record in the 200m individual medley.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share