1
: an act or instance of stealing : theft
also
: a financial exploitation
The so-called deal turned out to be a rip-off.
2
: a usually cheap exploitive imitation
a rip-off of a designer bag
ripped off; ripping off; rips off
1
2
: to copy or imitate blatantly or unscrupulously
The film ripped off a better one made years ago.
3
: to perform, achieve, or score quickly or easily
ripped off 10 straight points
Examples of rip-off in a Sentence
Noun
a daring burglary of the art museum that resulted in one of the greatest rip-offs in history
Verb
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
But The Beauty is not a rip-off of The Substance.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Golden State finally ripped off the Jonathan Kuminga bandage, sending him to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis, a high-upside center whose biggest obstacle is his inability to stay on the court.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
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Noun
According to a transcript, under cross-examination by attorney Lee Rothman, Hennen admitted to drug dealing, gambling rip-offs, and hustling pool throughout the Northeast and Midwest.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
But The Beauty is not a rip-off of The Substance.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
After retaining his parallel giant slalom crown in Livigno on Sunday, the 40-year-old celebrated by ripping off his top, baring his chest to the frenzied crowd, before flexing his muscles and dropping facedown on the snow.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Golden State finally ripped off the Jonathan Kuminga bandage, sending him to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis, a high-upside center whose biggest obstacle is his inability to stay on the court.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip-off. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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