rip apart
phrasal verb
ripped apart; ripping apart; rips apart
1
: to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
The child ripped the toy apart.
Strong winds had ripped apart many of the little beach bungalows.
—often used figurativelya tragedy/scandal that almost ripped the family apart
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
Critics ripped the author's latest novel apart.
an article that rips apart the mayor's plan
Examples of rip apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In other words, could the question at the outset of the novel be applied today to the United States—a bastion of democratic strength being ripped apart by an erratic tyrant?
Years ago, in one of his lucid columns, Vargas Llosa described the election of Donald Trump as a form of national suicide.
—
Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
Extrajudicial abductions of legal U.S. residents by ICE are ripping apart families and reflecting disdain for our Constitution.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Stephen Kirkman of the AEI does a good job ripping the fantasy piece, which is behind speculation of a Mar-a-Largo Accord, as tariff plans are ripped apart by applying Economics 101 principles to it.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Immigrant families of all statuses are living in fear, communities across the country are in chaos, and U.S. citizens are being ripped apart from their spouses and parents.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
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Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
Extrajudicial abductions of legal U.S. residents by ICE are ripping apart families and reflecting disdain for our Constitution.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Stephen Kirkman of the AEI does a good job ripping the fantasy piece, which is behind speculation of a Mar-a-Largo Accord, as tariff plans are ripped apart by applying Economics 101 principles to it.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Immigrant families of all statuses are living in fear, communities across the country are in chaos, and U.S. citizens are being ripped apart from their spouses and parents.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip apart
Cite this Entry
“Rip apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip%20apart. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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