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!

Derived Forms

• deˈmolisher, noun
• deˈmolishment, noun

Other Words From

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

As JNF forestry workers began laying the groundwork for a new forest in August 2021, Israeli police helped clear the way by evicting people from their homes, which they then demolished.

From Salon

“We will demolish the deep state,” the president-elect often said at his campaign rallies, “We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country.”

From Los Angeles Times

His side suffered a record 11th successive Test match defeat as the Wallabies demolished them 52-20 in Cardiff to ramp up the pressure on Gatland.

From BBC

Early this year, Musk seemed to support trade barriers against a potential influx of Chinese electric vehicles to the United States, saying Chinese companies could “demolish” other EV makers around the world.

From Los Angeles Times

The house was demolished after her father, a local politician named Javed Mohammad, was arrested and named as the "key conspirator" of a protest by Muslims, which had turned violent.

From BBC

Related Words

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