demolish

[dih-mol-ish]

verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms: bulldoze, wreck, level

2. to put an end to; destroy; explode.

   The results of his research demolished many theories.

3. to lay waste to; ruin utterly.

   The fire demolished the area.

4. Informal.,  to devour completely.

   We simply demolished that turkey.

demolish

/ dɪˈmɒlɪʃ /

verb

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

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

3. facetious,  to eat up

   she demolished the whole cake!

Other Word Forms

• demolisher noun
• demolishment noun
• half-demolished adjective
• undemolished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of demolish¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of demolish¹

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

Synonym Study

See destroy.

Example Sentences

Watters acquiesced, then said, “OK, but we need to destroy it. Maybe can we demolish the building? Have everybody leave and then we’ll demolish the building.”

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, Israeli forces have remained, razing large areas of the camps in both cities, and demolishing buildings in other areas.

From BBC

Hawthorne city officials are fed up with the owners of long-vacant Hawthorne Mall and have obtained a permanent court injunction requiring them to either redevelop or demolish it by August 2026.

From Los Angeles Times

The site previously was the site of several housing units that were demolished in 2022, city records show.

From Los Angeles Times

The castle may have been demolished because it was structurally unsound or damaged in enemy attacks.

From BBC

Related Words

• annihilate 
• bulldoze 
• crush 
• decimate 
• devastate 
• dilapidate 
• dismantle 
• flatten 
• obliterate 
• overturn 
• pulverize 
• raze 
• ruin 
• smash 
• trash 
• wreck