unmake
Take apart entirely
To unmake is to undo or reverse the making of something—to take apart what was constructed, to destroy what was created.
The word carries more weight than simply breaking: you unmake what was deliberately made.
A king can be unmade by stripping away the ceremony that crowned him.
War unmakes men.
The word often appears in fantasy contexts where powerful creations must be uncreated: The ring could only be unmade in the fires where it was forged.
Reverse a prior action
- reverseTurn to opposite
- undoReverse a prior action
- retractWithdraw something said
- countermandRevoke a prior order
backtrack · unwind · roll back · nullify · negate · cancel · invalidate · void
Separate into parts
- take apartSeparate into components
- deconstructAnalyze by breaking down
- dismantleSeparate into parts
- stripNarrow elongated piece
break down · detach · disconnect · separate · uncouple · disjoin · disengage · dismember
undo
Reverse a prior action
countermand · backtrack · unwind · roll back · nullify · negate · cancel · invalidate · void · rescind
disassemble
Separate into parts
- take apartSeparate into components
- deconstructAnalyze by breaking down
- dismantleSeparate into parts
strip · break down · detach · disconnect · separate · uncouple · disjoin · disengage · dismember · dissect
destroy
Cause complete ruin
shatter · obliterate · annihilate · devastate · raze · decimate · crush · pulverize · eradicate · extirpate
dissolve
Disperse into liquid
fragment · disunite · disintegrate · evaporate · vanish · disappear · melt · fade · dissipate · break up