rip apart

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 figuratively

a 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

Are Aston Villa a team being ripped apart, picked off by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal for Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and now Ezri Konsa, or a team in exciting transition and ripe for reinvention under Unai Emery? — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Wind shear tends to rip apart or hinder development of a storm. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Rather than generate hype, the AI film has been ripped apart as a clear sign of his decline — the pièce de résistance in his fall from grace. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 July 2026

Squirrels will rip apart cushions to get to the creamy center. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Rhymes for rip apart

• counterpart
• art
• cart
• carte
• chart
• dart
• fart
• haart
• mart
• part
• smart
• start