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
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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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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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At this point, most of the surveys are showing roughly seventy per cent of Israelis would prefer a hostage deal to whatever the alternative is, like destroying Hamas by any means.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Because mutually assured destruction has already occurred.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Feb. 2025
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The epic destruction that surrounds the Villa today adds an unnerving element to the exhibition’s art historical context.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 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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Both girls were also charged with arson, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and desecration of human remains.—
Rachel Hale,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
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Robbed of the event’s usual flair, the competitors instead put on a display of oafish masculinity, eating Combos on the ice and getting overly handsy with a female partner, among other desecrations of the sport.—
Dan Reilly,
Vulture,
30 July 2024
Noun
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Waffle House has temporarily raised its prices as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) know as bird flu ravages the nation's farms.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
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Higher electrical power ravages most metal catalysts.—
science.org,
science.org,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The one-time ingenue made gallows humor out of her ruination, glorying in the cracks and croaks of her voice.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2025
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The aftershocks of the Vietnam War and the ruination of family legacy also came into play in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974).—
Richard Newby,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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