unmake

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to reverse the making of something; destroy, dismantle, or cause it to lose its essential form or character

   War can unmake institutions that took generations to build.

2. 2
   verb

   to deprive a person of office, status, authority, or power

   The prince could make and unmake nobles whenever their loyalty changed.

From Middle English unmaken, formed with reversive un- + make. Unlike negative un-, this prefix means 'reverse or undo,' so unmake denotes destroying a creation or withdrawing a status that was previously conferred.

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