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
Starring Matt Smith, D’Arcy and Cooke, the third season will pick up with a major escalation in the Dance of the Dragons, the war that rips apart the powerful Targaryen dynasty.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 July 2025
Conditions aren’t looking favorable for a strong storm right now because this system will likely not have much time to mature over water and will also have to overcome hostile upper-level winds that can rip apart storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
GRBs are thought to be launched from massive dying stars in the early stages of a supernova as its outer layers are ripped apart with escaping jets of high-energy particles.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 July 2025
The fact that every stage is also made of terrain with unique properties that Donkey Kong can rip apart is itself ludicrously ambitious, similar to Breath of the Wild’s in-depth physics and objects that catch fire or conduct electricity.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025
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Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 July 2025
Conditions aren’t looking favorable for a strong storm right now because this system will likely not have much time to mature over water and will also have to overcome hostile upper-level winds that can rip apart storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
GRBs are thought to be launched from massive dying stars in the early stages of a supernova as its outer layers are ripped apart with escaping jets of high-energy particles.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 July 2025
The fact that every stage is also made of terrain with unique properties that Donkey Kong can rip apart is itself ludicrously ambitious, similar to Breath of the Wild’s in-depth physics and objects that catch fire or conduct electricity.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 July 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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