# demolish

> English word · Verb · IPA /dᵻˈmɒl.ɪʃ/ · frequency rank #22,946

## Definitions
1. To destroy (buildings, etc.), especially in a planned or intentional fashion.
2. To defeat, refute, discredit, or consume utterly (as a theory, belief or opponent).
3. To devour; to eat up

## Etymology
Attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“I tear down”). Displaced native Old English tōweorpan (literally “to throw apart”).

## Easily confused with
- **devilish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/demolish-vs-devilish)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddemolish`, `demloish`, `demmolish`, `demoilsh`, `demolihs`, `demolishh`, `demolissh`, `demollish`, `demolsih`, `deomlish`, `dmeolish`, `edmolish`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/demolish