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
Mason Dye’s vengeful jock Jason Carver was also killed—his body ripped apart by an interdimensional gate in the Creel House—as was Matthew Modine’s Dr. Martin Brenner, who was shot by a US army sniper.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 2 June 2025
Few Floridians will soon forget the night in October 2024 when Hurricane Milton ripped apart large sections of the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field, with winds estimated to have reached 120 mph.
—Jenna Dipaolo, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Without their captain and right-back Dani Carvajal, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Villarreal three weeks earlier, Madrid’s defence were ripped apart by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 12 May 2025
These are then expelled out into space as the star is ripped apart.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
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Radhika Seth, Vogue, 2 June 2025
Few Floridians will soon forget the night in October 2024 when Hurricane Milton ripped apart large sections of the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field, with winds estimated to have reached 120 mph.
—Jenna Dipaolo, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Without their captain and right-back Dani Carvajal, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Villarreal three weeks earlier, Madrid’s defence were ripped apart by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 12 May 2025
These are then expelled out into space as the star is ripped apart.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 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 17 Jun. 2025.
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