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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tear down
The landlord who sued TGI Fridays last year to evict the restaurant from its Mall at Millenia location will tear down the building and bring in a new tenant.
—
Laura Kinsler, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
New oil fields will be sought to extract from, new mines dug, forests torn down to sell timber.
—Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 9 Jan. 2025
Flashback: Charlotte's famous strip club Uptown Cabaret was torn down to make way for the construction.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
When the former Soviet Union surprisingly tore down the Berlin Wall in 1989, many considered the act a signal to the end of the Cold War between America and the Soviets.
—Jim Clash, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tear down 
Laura Kinsler, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
New oil fields will be sought to extract from, new mines dug, forests torn down to sell timber.
—Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 9 Jan. 2025
Flashback: Charlotte's famous strip club Uptown Cabaret was torn down to make way for the construction.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
When the former Soviet Union surprisingly tore down the Berlin Wall in 1989, many considered the act a signal to the end of the Cold War between America and the Soviets.
—Jim Clash, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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The video was released Sunday by a law firm representing a woman whose house was destroyed by the fire and is suing Southern California Edison, the primary electrical utility for Los Angeles.—
Michelle Watson,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
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By the time the show opened on Friday, the Eaton Fire, which is now 95 percent contained, had burned over 14,000 acres and destroyed over 9,000 structures in Altadena, Pasadena, and other areas nearby.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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No one was injured but city officials decided the situation could not continue and have made plans to demolish the structures and clear the site.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
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Image The restaurant was closed when the fire came the night of Jan. 7, demolishing entire neighborhoods before the flames closed in on the diner.—
Corina Knoll,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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While that’s still below 1% of all luggage handled, try explaining that statistic to the family whose weekend away with the kids has been ruined by lost luggage.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In the nineteen-sixties, modernizers in both of Britain’s main political parties argued that the building should be pulled down and replaced by a more modest structure.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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Fans stormed the field and pulled down the goal posts.—
Scott Dochterman,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some areas in the Panhandle recorded over half a foot of snow, shattering long-standing snow records, CBS Miami reported.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2025
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For the most social of butterflies, this fall’s Italy, France, and Ibiza cruise is set to shatter records for the largest gay cruise to set sail across Europe, uniting more than 4,000 passengers on the massive Odyssey of the Seas.—
Jared Ranahan,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Related Articles Asking Eric: The newcomer wrecked our group’s vibe.—
R. Eric Thomas,
The Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2025
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Palace would have to weigh up the risk of wrecking that relationship.—
Liam Twomey,
The Athletic,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Overnight, a flash flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service for Malibu, where homes and businesses were destroyed by the Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes to devastate Los Angeles County this month.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2025
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In the same month that multiple fires devastated Los Angeles County, the Border 2 Fire sparked and set over 6,000 acres ablaze in San Diego County, prompting more evacuation orders, according to officials.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps the elder Buffett has softened his opinion on dividends as Berkshire’s cash pile continued to smash records.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
19 Jan. 2025
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Instead, Villain tried to smash her face into the food.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tear down
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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