démolir
/de.mɔ.liʁ/verb★Intermediate
general
To destroy or tear down a building or structure.
Le tremblement de terre a démoli plusieurs maisons.
The earthquake demolished several houses.
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Often used in construction, urban development, or disaster contexts.
figurative
To criticize or destroy someone's arguments or reputation.
Son discours a démoli les théories de son adversaire.
His speech demolished his opponent's theories.
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Used metaphorically to describe strong criticism or refutation.
Collocations
démolir un bâtimentto demolish a buildingdémolir une théorieto demolish a theory
Synonyms
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
'Démolir' can refer to physical destruction (e.g., buildings) or strong criticism (e.g., arguments).
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'desmolir', from Latin 'demolire', meaning 'to pull down'.
📝Usage Notes
In French, 'démolir' is commonly used for both physical destruction and metaphorical criticism.
Word Breakdown
dé-
intensive prefix
prefix-molir
to grind or crush
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