demolition
noun
de·mo·li·tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən 
ˌdē-mə-
1
: the act of demolishing
especially : destruction in war by means of explosives
2
demolitions plural : explosives for destruction in war
demolitionist
ˌde-mə-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəst
noun ˌdē-mə-
Synonyms
- annihilation
- decimation
- demolishment
- desolation
- destruction
- devastation
- extermination
- extinction
- havoc
- loss
- mincemeat
- obliteration
- ruin
- ruination
- wastage
- wreckage
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week. The demolitions should be complete by the end of the year.
Recent Examples on the Web That should affect just 3 percent of demolition permits. 
Megan Stringer, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Sep. 2022 Scott said demolishing the structure would be expensive, a cost Burrough said wasn't included in the planning and development department's unsafe structures demolition budget. Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2022 But soon they’ll be headed to their final few stops: a demolition facility, followed by a steel mill. Spencer Buell, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 The ballpark is still being designed, but in an effort to expedite the process, demolition will begin in the coming months. Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2022 Faced with demolition for a Walgreen’s, Bogue’s new owners moved to the historic Birmingham Fire Station No. 22 building in 2012. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2022 Lysobacter specializes in demolition on contact and can blow up not only other bacteria but also green algae, fungi and even little squirming animals called roundworms. Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2022 For example, Skokie selected an environmentally-friendly contractor for the demolition, which resulted in less than 5% of debris ending up in landfills, Meyer said. Elena Ferrarin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 This is either a scoring frenzy for both teams or a one way demolition of Colorado. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 See More
Megan Stringer, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Sep. 2022 Scott said demolishing the structure would be expensive, a cost Burrough said wasn't included in the planning and development department's unsafe structures demolition budget. Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2022 But soon they’ll be headed to their final few stops: a demolition facility, followed by a steel mill. Spencer Buell, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 The ballpark is still being designed, but in an effort to expedite the process, demolition will begin in the coming months. Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2022 Faced with demolition for a Walgreen’s, Bogue’s new owners moved to the historic Birmingham Fire Station No. 22 building in 2012. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2022 Lysobacter specializes in demolition on contact and can blow up not only other bacteria but also green algae, fungi and even little squirming animals called roundworms. Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2022 For example, Skokie selected an environmentally-friendly contractor for the demolition, which resulted in less than 5% of debris ending up in landfills, Meyer said. Elena Ferrarin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 This is either a scoring frenzy for both teams or a one way demolition of Colorado. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēmōlītiōn-, dēmōlītiō, from dēmōlīrī "to throw down, pull down, demolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns
First Known Use
1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing demolition
Kids Definition
demolition
noun
de·mo·li·tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən
: the act of destroying by breaking apart especially using explosives
demolition
noun
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless several condemned buildings around the city are undergoing demolition as part of the revitalization program Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- destruction
- devastation
- extinction
- havoc
- extermination
- demolishment
- annihilation
- obliteration
- loss
- decimation
- wastage
- ruin
- ruination
- collapse
- wreckage
- mincemeat
- disintegration
- desolation
- execution
- massacre
- slaughter
- depredation
- dismantlement
- dissolution
- assassination
- breakup
- despoliation
- killing
- despoilment
- eradication
- effacement
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- construction
- building
- erection
- rescue
- saving
- raising
- salvation
- salvage
- preservation
- restoration
- conservation
- renovation
- reconstruction
- reclamation
- protection
- remodeling
- refurbishment
- re-creation
- regeneracy