demolish

[ dih-mol-ish ]
See synonyms for: demolishdemolisheddemolishing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to destroy or ruin (a building or other structure), especially on purpose; tear down; raze.

  2. to put an end to; destroy; explode: The results of his research demolished many theories.

  1. to lay waste to; ruin utterly: The fire demolished the area.

  2. Informal. to devour completely: We simply demolished that turkey.

Origin of demolish

1
1560–70; <Middle French démoliss-, stem of démolir<Latin dēmōlīrī to destroy, equivalent to dē-de- + mōlīrī to set in motion, struggle (mōl(ēs) mass, bulk + -īrī infinitive suffix)

synonym study For demolish

1. See destroy.

Other words for demolish

Other words from demolish

  • de·mol·ish·er, noun
  • de·mol·ish·ment, noun
  • half-de·mol·ished, adjective
  • un·de·mol·ished, adjective

Words Nearby demolish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use demolish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demolish

demolish

/ (dɪˈmɒlɪʃ) /


verb(tr)
  1. to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)

  2. to destroy; put an end to (an argument, etc)

  1. facetious to eat up: she demolished the whole cake!

Origin of demolish

1
C16: from French démolir, from Latin dēmōlīrī to throw down, destroy, from de- + mōlīrī to strive, toil, construct, from mōles mass, bulk

Derived forms of demolish

  • demolisher, noun
  • demolishment, noun

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