demolition

demolition — noun

1. the work of deliberately destroying buildings, bridges, or other large structure

1.nounB2
Definition

the work of deliberately destroying buildings, bridges, or other large structures, usually to clear the land for a new project.

Example

The company won the contract for the demolition of the old hospital on Vine Street.

collocation: demolition of + building

Demolition crews began clearing the collapsed shopping centre yesterday morning.

collocation: demolition crew

Common collocations
  • demolition crew
  • demolition work
  • demolition permit
  • demolition contractor
  • demolition order
  • demolition site
  • demolition of a building
  • demolition of a bridge
  • controlled demolition
  • building demolition
  • house demolition
Synonyms
  • destruction

    broader in scope — can refer to any thing or process, not just large structures

  • wrecking

    more violent and chaotic in tone; less formal than 'demolition'

  • razing

    means destroying completely, often to the ground; more literary and less common

Antonyms
  • construction

    the opposite activity — building something up rather than tearing it down

  • preservation

    keeping a structure in its existing state instead of destroying it

Usage Note

Often used as a compound noun before another noun — for example, 'demolition crew', 'demolition work', 'demolition permit'. Typically countable when referring to a specific event ('the demolition of the building') and uncountable when referring to the activity in general ('Demolition is dangerous work').

Common Mistakes

The demolition crew carefully dismantled the building piece by piece.
The demolition crew knocked down the building with explosives.
'demolition' implies rapid, forceful destruction, not careful disassembly (that is 'dismantling').

2. a strong and complete refutation that shows an argument, theory, or claim has no

2.nounC1
Definition

a strong and complete refutation that shows an argument, theory, or claim has no logical basis and cannot be defended.

Example

Professor Tendai's demolition of the popular economic theory was both decisive and thorough.

collocation: demolition of + theory/argument

Hassan's recent article is a complete demolition of every claim made by the opposition party.

intensifier: complete demolition

Common collocations
  • demolition of an argument
  • demolition of a theory
  • demolition of a claim
  • complete demolition
  • total demolition
  • devastating demolition
  • thorough demolition
Synonyms
  • refutation

    more formal and technical; focuses on logical disproving rather than forceful rejection

  • rebuttal

    suggests a point-by-point response rather than a sweeping refutation

  • disproof

    emphasises evidence that shows something is false; less common in everyday use

Antonyms
  • confirmation

    showing that an argument or theory is correct rather than wrong

  • endorsement

    giving approval or support to an idea instead of tearing it down

Grammar Patterns

demolition + of + argument/theory/claim

Usage Note

Almost always followed by 'of' and the thing being refuted. Frequently preceded by intensifying adjectives such as 'complete', 'total', or 'devastating'. The definite article is common ('the demolition of his argument').

Common Mistakes

She offered a demolition of his argument by pointing out a small error.
She offered a demolition of his argument, showing that every single claim was false.
In this sense, 'demolition' means a total refutation, not mild criticism of a minor flaw.

3. a complete and easy defeat of an opponent in a sport, game, or competition, wher

3.nounB2
Definition

a complete and easy defeat of an opponent in a sport, game, or competition, where the winner dominates from start to finish.

Example

The home team suffered a 5–0 demolition at the hands of their cross-town rivals.

collocation: score + demolition (in sports)

The televised debate ended in a total demolition of the government's education policy.

Common collocations
  • demolition of a team
  • total demolition
  • complete demolition
  • suffer a demolition
  • hand someone a demolition
  • 5–0 demolition
  • demolition job
Synonyms
  • rout

    specifically a one-sided defeat in which the loser gives up or flees; common in both sports and military contexts

  • thrashing

    informal and vivid; suggests physical or metaphorical beating

  • drubbing

    informal; less common but colourfully emphasises humiliation

Antonyms
  • thriller

    a close, exciting contest that is the opposite of a one-sided demolition

  • nail-biter

    an informal term for a very close game where the outcome is uncertain until the end

Grammar Patterns

demolition + of + opponent/team

Usage Note

Common in sports reporting and debate commentary. Often used with a score or margin that emphasises one-sidedness. Verbs frequently used as objects include 'suffer', 'hand', 'face' — suggesting the result is painful for the loser.

Common Mistakes

Our team won a demolition against the opponents, winning 3–2.
Our team won a demolition against the opponents, winning 5
0.' — A 'demolition' implies a one-sided victory with a large margin, not a close score.

Word family

  • demolish
    verbB2
  • demolished
    adjectiveB2
  • demolisher
    nounC1
  • demolitionist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Destruction' is by far the broadest term — it can apply to anything from a sandcastle to a city, and it can be accidental or deliberate. 'Wrecking' suggests more violent, chaotic breakage, often less controlled than demolition; you might wreck a car in a crash but you do not wreck a building as a planned project. 'Razing' carries a sense of total elimination, literally bringing something to ground level, and is used mostly in formal or historical writing ('the razing of Carthage'). 'Dismantling' is almost the opposite of demolition: it means taking something apart carefully, often to salvage parts, whereas demolition implies intentional, forceful, and usually rapid destruction. For example, the city council would order the demolition of a dangerous bridge, but a team of engineers would dismantle a historic clock tower to preserve its components.

destruction ↗wreckingrazingdismantling

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • controlled demolition

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'demolition' traces back through French 'démolition' to Latin 'demolitionem', which comes from the verb 'demoliri' — meaning 'to tear down' or 'to throw down'. The Latin verb breaks into 'de-' (down, away) and 'moliri' (to build, to construct), which itself comes from 'moles' (a large mass or structure). So the core image is literally 'un-building' something massive. The figurative senses — demolishing an argument or demolishing an opponent — developed in English in the 19th century, extending the physical act of tearing down into intellectual and competitive arenas.