bodice ripper
noun
: a historical or Gothic romance typically featuring scenes in which the heroine is subjected to violence
Examples of bodice ripper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of Wuthering Heights reimagines Emily Brontë’s classic novel as a big-budget bodice ripper.
—
Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Confirming that Robbie’s take on the Brontë heroine will be more Bridgerton-style bodice ripper, the actress also stepped out in a teeny-tiny Roberto Cavalli minidress, paired with Louboutins: the obvious choice of footwear for navigating the Yorkshire moors.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
The Regency period drama, a true bodice ripper, turns its attention to Benedict, the second Bridgerton son played by Luke Thompson.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Silent Retreat is a bodice ripper with a fillip of Roman Catholic ritual: a novice ripper.
—Air Mail, 14 June 2025
Though the classic bodice rippers have been around for years – see Lorraine Heath, Linda Lael Miller or Beverly Jenkins – cowboy romance novels are getting a contemporary rebrand of their own.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
Erotic tabletop roleplaying games have moved beyond classic bodice rippers like Rapture’s Voyage.
—Linda Codega, Them, 14 Feb. 2025
For many cis-gender, heterosexual women who grew up reading pony stories, Tolkien fantasy, or 1980s bodice rippers, this scene is also indicative of a fundamental cultural shift that centralizes women’s autonomy.
—Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Gentlemen Callers is not a classic romance novel or a straightforward bodice ripper, Zoë Hu points out.
—Nicole Acheampong, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2022
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Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Confirming that Robbie’s take on the Brontë heroine will be more Bridgerton-style bodice ripper, the actress also stepped out in a teeny-tiny Roberto Cavalli minidress, paired with Louboutins: the obvious choice of footwear for navigating the Yorkshire moors.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
The Regency period drama, a true bodice ripper, turns its attention to Benedict, the second Bridgerton son played by Luke Thompson.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Silent Retreat is a bodice ripper with a fillip of Roman Catholic ritual: a novice ripper.
—Air Mail, 14 June 2025
Though the classic bodice rippers have been around for years – see Lorraine Heath, Linda Lael Miller or Beverly Jenkins – cowboy romance novels are getting a contemporary rebrand of their own.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
Erotic tabletop roleplaying games have moved beyond classic bodice rippers like Rapture’s Voyage.
—Linda Codega, Them, 14 Feb. 2025
For many cis-gender, heterosexual women who grew up reading pony stories, Tolkien fantasy, or 1980s bodice rippers, this scene is also indicative of a fundamental cultural shift that centralizes women’s autonomy.
—Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Gentlemen Callers is not a classic romance novel or a straightforward bodice ripper, Zoë Hu points out.
—Nicole Acheampong, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Bodice ripper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodice%20ripper. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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