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demolish

[dih-mol-ish]
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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.
  3. to lay waste to; ruin utterly: The fire demolished the area.
  4. Informal. to devour completely: We simply demolished that turkey.
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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)
Related formsde·mol·ish·er, nounde·mol·ish·ment, nounhalf-de·mol·ished, adjectiveun·de·mol·ished, adjective

Synonyms

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1. level, wreck, bulldoze.

Synonym study

1. See destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

liquidationeradicationexterminationeliminationextinctiondemolitiondestructiondecimationobliterationmassacreruinslaughterdilapidationbumpslamrappileupcrashthudimpact

Examples from the Web for demolishment

Historical Examples

  • From 1381 the year of its demolishment until 1509 it was little more than a ruin.

    Nooks and Corners of Old London

    Charles Hemstreet

  • He addressed himself to the demolishment of a ripe Cassaba melon.

    The Happy End

    Joseph Hergesheimer

  • But he was thinking of the Jago as it had been—he had forgotten the demolishment.

    A Child of the Jago

    Arthur Morrison

  • On the corner of this street was a most charming old façade in process of demolishment, which we deplored.

British Dictionary definitions for demolishment

demolish

verb (tr)
  1. to tear down or break up (buildings, etc)
  2. to destroy; put an end to (an argument, etc)
  3. facetious to eat upshe demolished the whole cake!
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Derived Formsdemolisher, noundemolishment, noun

Word Origin

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 demolishment

demolish

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper