demolishverb [ T ]
uk/dɪˈmɒl.ɪʃ/us/dɪˈmɑː.lɪʃ/demolish verb [ T ] (DESTROY)
B2 to completely destroy a building, especially in order to use the land for something else:
A number of houses were demolished so that the supermarket could be built.
C2 to prove that an argument or theory is wrong:
He completely demolished all her arguments.
More examples
- The building had to be demolished because of subsidence.
- One by one the old buildings in the city have been demolished and replaced with modern tower blocks.
- The explosion virtually demolished several nearby houses.
- You've demolished my lovely arrangement - now I'll have to do it all over again!
- Our greenhouse was demolished in last night's storm.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Destroying and demolishing
- annihilate
- apocalypse
- be sacrificed on the altar of sth idiom
- blast
- blast/blow sb/sth to kingdom come idiom
- kill sth off
- kill the goose that lays the golden egg idiom
- knock
- knock sth down
- knock sth out
- sacrifice
- sink
- smash
- stave sth in
- take sb/sth out
- tear 1
- tear sth apart
- tear sth down
- teardown
- wipe
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Proving and disproving
demolish verb [ T ] (DEFEAT)
to easily defeat someone:
In a surprising win, the Jaguars demolished the Broncos 42-7.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Winning and defeating
- annihilate
- bank
- be one in the eye for sb idiom
- beat sb at their own game idiom
- beat sb hollow idiom
- outpace
- outperform
- outscore
- overpower
- overturn
- pip
- reel
- sew
- sweep
- trump
- unassailable
- unbeaten
- undefeated
- victorious
- wipe
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demolish verb [ T ] (EAT)
humorous to quickly eat all the food you have been given:
Joe demolished an enormous plateful of chicken and fries.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Eating
- al desko
- ate
- binge
- binge eating
- bite
- consume
- feast on sth
- feeder
- feeding
- finish
- finish (sth) up
- gorge
- put sth away
- scarf
- scoff
- shovel sth into your mouth idiom
- snack
- stoke
- swallow
- tuck
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demolition
noun [ C or U ] uk/ˌdem.əˈlɪʃ.ən/us/ˌdem.əˈlɪʃ.ən/
the act of destroying something such as a building:
the demolition of dangerous buildings