TORE DOWN Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

tore down

verb

past tense of tear down

as in destroyed

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demolished

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

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 tore down In 2023, the Claramontes tore down the house, despite protests from civic leaders who sought to maintain the area’s heritage. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 Department of Homeland Security contractors tore down the first of the three trees on July 27. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026 The French revolutionaries tore down almost all of society’s old structures—including the calendar, the churches, and the school system. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Piepenbrink encouraged people to visit the Crete Township Community Center on Cottage Grove Avenue and Monee Road to view photos from a 1952 fire that tore down the Balmoral Park grandstand during renovations. — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 The president's team also repaired fountains throughout the city, tore down the White House's East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for renovations, and drew up plans for a gigantic triumphal arch across the river from the capital in Virginia. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 June 2026 The properties sit across a cove from where Michael Jordan once tore down his own mansion (presumably to build a bigger one — as one does). — Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026 Protesters tore down and disabled enforcement cameras and painted the policy as a civil liberties issue. — Justin Worland, Time, 3 June 2026 Clashes intensified this weekend as police with riot shields and officers on horseback pushed back demonstrators, some of whom tore down barricades, hurled objects and set tires ablaze outside the 1,000-bed facility. — Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore down

Verb

Glutathione was offered to firefighters during recent blazes that destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Washington.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
If satellites supporting communications or ISR were damaged or destroyed, a faster and less expensive launch system could theoretically allow replacement spacecraft to be deployed more quickly.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of destroyed

Verb

Its status as a historic landmark saved it from being demolished like all its sister theaters, but Santana Row owner Federal Realty controls its fate.

— Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Eventually, some buildings were demolished to control the fires.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of demolished

Verb

The influx all but ruined Sutter’s extensive land holdings around Sacramento, originally dubbed New Helvetia.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Brentford will be hoping promising midfielder Antoni Milambo can contribute after his debut season was ruined by an ACL injury in October.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruined

Verb

At its heart, ‘Juul’ is the story of a young girl who is constantly being pulled down by the world around her.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
The veteran slot cornerback pulled down both of New England’s interceptions, including one acrobatic toe-tapper near the end zone.

— Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulled down

Verb

Windows were shattered at a children’s hospital in the Solomianskyi district, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

— Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Cops responding to the area found a window shattered by gunfire and a pool of blood inside Hakim’s, a nearby seasonal restaurant for adults that neighbors say has become a teen hangout.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of shattered

Verb

The Audi pair almost had a similar problem when Gabriel Bortoleto spun on a greasy but drying track that also caught out and wrecked Verstappen on the opening lap.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Zebra striping is gaining traction as more Americans look for a way to enjoy nights out without waking up wrecked.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrecked

Verb

Family members declined to speak on camera but told CBS News Miami they are devastated by the incident.

— Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Daniel Vaz De Melo Sa, business development manager for Guidoni USA, said the flood of imports devastated operations at the company’s site in McRae, Georgia.

— Bloomberg News, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of devastated

Verb

Not the first time This is far from the first incident where brazen criminals have smashed through stores and banks in Maryland to steal cash machines.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
MuMe’s security systems were triggered when the thieves smashed glass display cases in the museum.

— News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of smashed

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“Tore down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore%20down. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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