demolish

1. (literally) To destroy (buildings, etc.), especially in a planned or intentional fashion.Examples: "They demolished the old mill and put up four townhouses."; "The station did not have a long life, as it was demolished between 1884 and 1888 to make room for a new and larger station which forms part of the present Liverpool Exchange Station."; "The force of the explosion demolished one pair of piers and two spans of the bridge crashed down into the river on top of the barges."literallytransitive

2. (figuratively) To defeat, refute, discredit, or consume utterly (as a theory, belief or opponent).Examples: "The Captain folded his brow into a look of intense perplexity. 'You seem exceedingly spry for a man who demolished an entire bottle of brandy and better part of an ounce of shag in a single evening.' 'And very nice too,' said the tramp. 'Now as to breakfast?'"; "Andrew Johnson scored a hat-trick as Fulham demolished London rivals Queens Park Rangers to win their Premier League fixture of the season."; "The table opposite me is occupied by a young couple with a table full of alcohol and snacks. In a role reversal, he is drinking Smirnoff Ice while she steadily demolishes a six-pack of lager!"figurativelytransitive