What does demolish mean?
Demolish is a transitive verb meaning to tear down or destroy something entirely, most often applied to buildings and large structures: crews demolish derelict factories, condemned houses, and outdated stadiums to clear the ground for new construction. Beyond the physical sense, demolish is widely used figuratively. A skilled debater can be said to demolish an opponent's argument when she refutes it point by point, leaving nothing standing, and in sports coverage a team that wins overwhelmingly is often said to have demolished its rival. In each case the word conveys thoroughness and finality — whatever is demolished is not merely damaged but reduced to rubble or ruin. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century from French démolir, ultimately rooted in the Latin molere, 'to crush or grind'. Its noun form, demolition, names both the act itself and the industry built around it. Forceful but neutral in register, demolish suits everything from planning notices to headlines, making it one of the most versatile verbs of destruction in English.
To tear down or completely destroy a building or structure.
"The council voted to demolish the derelict tower block."
Most commonly used with buildings and large structures as objects.
To refute an argument or theory decisively and thoroughly.
"Her research demolished the long-held assumption about the site's origins."
To defeat an opponent by a very wide margin.
"They were demolished 5–0 in the semi-final."
Demolish comes from the Latin 'mollis', meaning soft — literally, to make something soft enough to crumble away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of demolish
Demolish entered English in the early seventeenth century, borrowed from French démolir, which derives from Latin demoliri, 'to tear down', formed from de- ('down') plus moliri ('to build, construct'), a verb rooted in moles ('a mass, especially a massive building'). The same Latin root gives English words such as demolition and mole (as in a massive structure or breakwater). Cognates appear across Romance languages, including Spanish demoler and Italian demolire.
Related word forms
How demolish is actually used
Register-neutral; common in both everyday speech and journalism. The figurative senses (refuting an argument, defeating an opponent) are frequent in political commentary and sports reporting. British spelling of related derivatives follows standard patterns (e.g. 'demolishing').
Easily confused with demolish
'Demolish' means to destroy or tear down; 'demobilise' means to discharge someone from military service or stand down troops.