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
Data and forecasting firm S&P Global Mobility reports there are on average 20,000 parts in a vehicle when it is torn down to its nuts and bolts.
—
Michele Luhn, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
The next year, during Soundgarden, the audience tore down part of the wooden fence surrounding the theater and lit bonfires across the lawn.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Meister said the library will try to stay open as long as possible while the Gee Building is being torn down, for example.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The empty space was later torn down to the studs before it was rebuilt.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Michele Luhn, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
The next year, during Soundgarden, the audience tore down part of the wooden fence surrounding the theater and lit bonfires across the lawn.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Meister said the library will try to stay open as long as possible while the Gee Building is being torn down, for example.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The empty space was later torn down to the studs before it was rebuilt.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear down
Verb
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Af Klint edited her own notebooks later in life, rewriting or destroying entire passages and exorcising biographical details.—
Jay Cheshes,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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Helicopters dumped water over a burning forest in South Korea Thursday as fire crews struggled to contain the country's worst-ever wildfires, which have killed 28 people, forced at least 37,800 to flee their homes and destroyed thousands of structures and vehicles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The station shares a name with Spurs’ former home, which overlapped this site and was demolished as the modern structure, which opened in April 2019, was built.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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Though the interior of the building was demolished, the Art Deco facade was and is still considered a historical landmark and remains intact.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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An attorney representing former Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker is asking a county judge to give the ex-official probation — not jail time — arguing that his conviction late last year has already damaged his reputation and ruined his career, according to a new court filing.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Both of the duo are scoring in the double figures this season and are pulling down nearly 16 rebounds per game between the two of them.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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Andy Pages walked, and then Shohei Ohtani sparked the rally with the Dodgers' first hit of the game off of Ben Brown, a single pulled down the right-field line.—
Ryan Canfield,
Fox News,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Over the past year, women’s sports have shattered viewership records.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Come October, the sound of a puck skimming across ice and players crashing into the boards surrounding a hockey rink may shatter the 2 1/2-year silence.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Part of the franchise’s challenge is to incorporate Leonard without wrecking team chemistry.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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At least 6 people were killed in the storms in multiple states as destructive winds wrecked cars, tore down powerlines and sent people scrambling.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This decision devastated Ajax, whose honor and ego were deeply wounded.—
Antonis Kocheilas,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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When Hurricane Milton ripped through Tampa Bay on October 9, less than two weeks had passed since Hurricane Helene struck the same area, and the region was devastated.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kamikaze sank their first ship on Oct. 25, 1944, when a navy Zero pilot smashed into the USS St. Lo in the Philippine Sea while carrying a pair of 550-pound bombs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Carlson was wearing a helmet and smashing the windows of the apartment, and going in and out of the house to get gas cans from his truck, the document said.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear%20down. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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