To completely tear down or destroy a building or structure. It can also mean to ruin an idea, argument, or record very thoroughly.
From Latin *demoliri* meaning 'to tear down, to destroy', from *de-* ('down') and *moliri* ('to build, to construct, to undertake'). Ironically, the root for 'build' also gave us the word for taking buildings apart.
Demolish often suggests a planned, careful kind of destruction—like using experts to bring down a building safely. That’s why it works so well with arguments too: to 'demolish' one is to take it apart so completely it can’t stand anymore.
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