demolish

[dih-mol-ish]

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verb (used with object)

to destroy or ruin (a building or other structure), especially on purpose; tear down; raze.

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

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

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

Nearby words

Origin of demolish

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)

SYNONYMS FOR demolish

1. level, wreck, bulldoze.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR demolish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsde·mol·ish·er, nounde·mol·ish·ment, nounhalf-de·mol·ished, adjectiveun·de·mol·ished, adjective

Synonym study

1. See destroy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for demolish

Eri Hayward is cheerful, even as she drops verbal bombs that demolish mainstream conceptions about being transgender.
Thank God! To the Church, This Transgender Woman Is Just a Skank|Emily Shire|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will stir things up, but it will not begin to demolish the group.
The Case of the Yakking Yakuza|Jake Adelstein|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They need to demolish their homes and round them up, the way they do it to our children.
The Seeds of the Next Intifada|Jesse Rosenfeld|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sale has hit some snags, but the lease also gives El-Gamel the right to demolish the building.
Why the Ground Zero Mosque Is Worth Saving|Michael Daly|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If you do not vacate the premises by 13 DEC 6PM, we reserve the right to demolish your premises without delay.
Thousands of Students 'Evicted' in Pro-Palestine Solidarity Campaign|Orly Halpern|December 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He left standing the forts which he had intended to demolish and filled up the larger wells.
Sir John French|Cecil Chisholm
Simon seized him by the hair with both hands and set to work to demolish his legs with kicks, while he bit his cheek ferociously.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume IV (of 8)|Guy de Maupassant
The houses of the town were far too near to the ramparts; but the Allies dared not demolish them until reinforcements arrived.
William Pitt and the Great War|John Holland Rose
The captives were freed amidst great enthusiasm, and the people soon set to work to demolish the walls.
An Introduction to the History of Western Europe|James Harvey Robinson
He might close the door, and demolish every one of us like Antar, the lover of Ibla; but he lets us live.
Doctor Birch and His Young Friends|M. A. Titmarsh

British Dictionary definitions for demolish

demolish

verb (tr)

to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)

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

facetious to eat upshe demolished the whole cake!

Derived Formsdemolisher, noundemolishment, noun

Word Origin for demolish

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for demolish

demolish

1560s, from Middle French demoliss-, present participle stem of démolir "to destroy, tear down" (late 14c.), from Latin demoliri "tear down," from de- "down" (see de-) + moliri "build, construct," from moles (genitive molis) "massive structure" (see mole (n.3)). Related: Demolished; demolishing.

demolish

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of demolish

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for demolish

demolish

verb (tr)

Word Origin for demolish

demolish