rip

tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

• • tear up the letter

rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

• • ripped the shirt on a nail

rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

• • an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

• • split logs for firewood

cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

• • a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

rive occurs most often in figurative use.

• • a political party riven by conflict