demoler
verbCEFR B2
What does “demoler” mean in English?
to demolish, to knock down
to demolish, to knock down (a building or structure — demoler un edificio / una infraestructura)
Example sentences
El ayuntamiento decidió demoler el edificio abandonado antes de que representara un riesgo para los vecinos.
The council decided to demolish the abandoned building before it posed a risk to residents.
Para construir el nuevo hospital, fue necesario demoler tres bloques residenciales que llevaban décadas vacíos.
To build the new hospital, it was necessary to demolish three residential blocks that had been empty for decades.
Las autoridades han ordenado demoler las obras ilegales levantadas sin licencia en la zona protegida.
The authorities have ordered the demolition of the illegal constructions built without a licence in the protected area.
How to use it
Demoler means 'to demolish' — bringing down a building or structure deliberately, usually as an official act or for construction purposes. It is physical and planned: the key contrast is with derribar (knock down, sometimes accidental or by natural force) and destruir (destroy, broader). Stem-changing irregular: demola (not *demolea).
Common mistake
Demoler is for deliberate, planned dismantling of structures — not for accidental destruction (use derrumbar or destruir for that). The stem change: demuela in subjunctive, demuela for formal command. In figurative registers in English you might 'demolish an argument', but Spanish uses refutar or desmontarargumento — not demoler.