DEMOLISHING Synonyms: 205 Similar and Opposite Words

demolishing 1 of 2

noun

as in wrecking

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demolishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of demolish

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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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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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

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 demolishing

Noun

In the filing, Omni Hotels outlined a five-year timeframe that would get the site fully designed, permitted and prepared for construction, noting construction would not start until at least five years after the demolishing of the buildings on site. — Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025

Verb

Mansfield Timberview signaled state-title ambitions by demolishing West Mesquite 69-7, while White Settlement Brewer knocked off Class 6A Haltom 31-14 to open Class 5A play. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 While members of the public and the architectural community have criticized the Rike Tubes for altering the character of Tbilisi’s historic old town, some favored relocating them to a more suitable setting rather than demolishing them. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026 As community members organized marches and protests, Abdeen helped bring a class-action lawsuit against the city, arguing that demolishing the neighborhood would violate residents’ civil rights. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 Trump has faced widespread criticism for demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make room for the grand ballroom design. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Despite being identified decades ago, the exact trigger of the joint-demolishing condition is still unclear. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 At least one person was arrested for trespassing in connection with an earlier protest to stop contractors from demolishing the other trees. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026 City officials determined the collision had damaged the bridge beyond repair and began demolishing it Tuesday. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2026 At the same time, Israeli soldiers have intensified their incursions across the West Bank, arresting more than 100 Palestinians and demolishing homes. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishing

Noun

At least, there was a lot less wrecking.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.

— The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026

Definition of wrecking

Verb

Demonstrators carrying Spanish flags moved toward beachside migrant camps last week, destroying shelters and setting fires as police attempted to keep protesters and migrants apart, according to Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE and news agency EFE.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Several homeowners near Meta’s massive Newton County data center have filed a lawsuit accusing the tech company and others of tainting their water and destroying their rural way of life.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

For a full breakdown of how to clean your bedding without ruining it, refer to AD's guide on how to wash a comforter.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruining

Verb

The video shows a customer walking out of Cinnaholic when the girls ride the scooter through the window, shattering the glass.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Wednesday, which was forecast to be the hottest day of the heat wave, brought record-shattering temperatures across the Southland.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of shattering

Noun

The deadly wall of water that descended from the mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet caused destruction at least 62 miles downriver from the border in Nepal, an ABC News analysis of verified video and satellite images shows.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of destruction

Verb

After razing huge warehouses in recent months belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, Ukrainian drones are now taking aim at Ozon, the country’s second-largest e-commerce company.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
In March, Nebraska’s Morrill Fire tore through 642,000 acres to become the largest in state history, killing one person and razing vast stretches of cattle country.

— Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of razing

Verb

Bland said officers were dispatched after a 911 caller reported that Garcia had been walking down the street with a baseball bat, smashing car windows.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Nvidia guided for 70% revenue growth in fiscal-year 2028, smashing estimates of 40%.

— Benzinga, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of smashing

Verb

Its exterior is rich with symbolism, from stone carvings representing the all-seeing eye of God to a golden statue, atop the highest spire, of an angel blowing a trumpet to herald the Second Coming.

— Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
There is a micronation on a fortress at sea off the coast of Great Britain, and the British government once considered blowing it up.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of blowing

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“Demolishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of demolishing

noun

verb

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