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
Everything in the house was torn down to the studs, save for the three bedrooms, which still sustained smoke damage.
—
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
In 1969, the building was torn down and later replaced with a bank, followed by a public plaza.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Hurricanes will open 2025 ACC slate with their biggest rival
This beachfront condo building was bought and torn down in South Florida.
—Noa Nierman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Change in some cities and towns meant better policing practices and Confederate statues being torn down.
—Abc News, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
In 1969, the building was torn down and later replaced with a bank, followed by a public plaza.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Hurricanes will open 2025 ACC slate with their biggest rival
This beachfront condo building was bought and torn down in South Florida.
—Noa Nierman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Change in some cities and towns meant better policing practices and Confederate statues being torn down.
—Abc News, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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Baldoni countersued, accusing Lively, Reynolds and Sloane of seeking to destroy his career.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
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Prominent right-wing Israeli politicians called to destroy Israel's enemies in response.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Crimson Tide have won their last seven games, most recently demolishing Texas 103-80 on Tuesday.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
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While exploring the basement of a building slated to be demolished for the upcoming office tower, the scientists unearthed the remains of what once served as the foundation of a two-story building, nearly as large as an Olympic swimming pool.—
Sophia Compton,
Fox News,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The film ends with Ross going full Red Hulk in the White House Rose Garden (oops), nearly ruining his legacy (Sterns’ real prize) and ultimately forcing him to admit his wrongdoing, give up his office, and head to The Raft to serve an undetermined amount of time in the floating prison.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
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Ancient people weren't about to let these pests ruin their crops or their lives.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Jaxson Robinson added 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting while Amari Williams had a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 15 rebounds.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
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In just two of those contests, Reese put up more points than Clark, while pulling down more rebounds than Clark in all four meetings.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In Mexico, a period of relative calm was shattered with the killing of five journalists as gangs and political groups clashed ahead of the June 2024 election.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
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Officers recovered 15 9 mm shell casings from a Jan. 28 afternoon skirmish involving four people in a store parking lot in the 8300 block of Roberts Road that sprayed bullets into a car, shattering the rear windshield and flattening two tires, police said.—
Dennis Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There's little doubt about next week being a 'climate emergency' with extreme cold—perhaps historical—wrecking the central United States.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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The powerful storm wrecked Tropicana Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, rendering the stadium unplayable for this season and possibly longer.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When wildfires devastated Los Angeles earlier this year, Bobbie provided formula for families who lost their homes.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
20 Feb. 2025
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But with the ceremony taking place at the Pasadena Civic Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, just six weeks after Los Angeles was devastated by a series of wildfires, the celebration takes on a new tenor.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The robber smashes various display cases and loads jewelry into his backpack before running back to the car.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
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Two Riverside officers have been charged after one smashed a resident’s skateboard in a viral video.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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