DEMOLISH
Dictionary entry overview: What does demolish mean?
• DEMOLISH (verb)
The verb DEMOLISH has 3 senses:
1. destroy completely
2. humiliate or depress completely
3. defeat soundly
Familiarity information: DEMOLISH used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• DEMOLISH (verb)
Meaning:
Destroy completely
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
demolish; pulverise; pulverize
Context examples:
the wrecking ball demolished the building / demolish your enemies / pulverize the rebellion before it gets out of hand
Hypernyms (to "demolish" is one way to...):
destroy; destruct (do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Humiliate or depress completely
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
demolish; crush; smash
Context examples:
She was crushed by his refusal of her invitation / The death of her son smashed her
Hypernyms (to "demolish" is one way to...):
abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify (cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The bad news will demolish him
Meaning:
Defeat soundly
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
demolish; destroy
Context example:
The home team demolished the visitors
Hypernyms (to "demolish" is one way to...):
defeat; get the better of; overcome (win a victory over)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "demolish"):
smash (overthrow or destroy (something considered evil or harmful))
swallow (engulf and destroy)
cut to ribbons (defeat totally)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The cars demolish down the avenue
