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

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

The tornado packed winds of up to 160 miles per hour, ripping apart homes, overturning vehicles, damaging farmland and leaving more than 4,855 houses damaged across the province, according to CNN, citing Xinhua News Agency. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026

In recent years, the courts have been ripping apart the NCAA rule book, prohibiting the organization from imposing limitations on transferring, and allowing players to return to college play after having gone pro. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026

School buses were ripped apart and burned in Times Square during what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026

Rhymes for rip apart

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