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
However, the demon baby then proceeded to brutally rip apart and kill Teddy, Phil, and Susie, leaving only Lilly and Ronnie alive before the credits rolled.
—
Megan McCluskey, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
The hypothesis is that the object that has recently been ripped apart by the white dwarf could have originated from this debris disk of material that survived the death of the star.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The sounds and images of heavy construction equipment ripping apart one of the most historic places in the United States, though, have put the White House on the defensive.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
An Overland Park church’s message of inclusivity and love towards members of the LGBTQ+ community in the form of an outdoor banner has been repeatedly torn down, ripped apart and stolen from its property for years, a church leader says.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
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Megan McCluskey, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
The hypothesis is that the object that has recently been ripped apart by the white dwarf could have originated from this debris disk of material that survived the death of the star.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The sounds and images of heavy construction equipment ripping apart one of the most historic places in the United States, though, have put the White House on the defensive.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
An Overland Park church’s message of inclusivity and love towards members of the LGBTQ+ community in the form of an outdoor banner has been repeatedly torn down, ripped apart and stolen from its property for years, a church leader says.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2025.
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