tear apart
phrasal verb
tore apart; torn apart; tearing apart; tears apart
1
: to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart.
—often used figurativelyThe robbers tore apart the house looking for the money.
We tore the other team apart in yesterday's game.
We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart.
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
The article tears apart the company's handling of the situation.
They tore him apart when he left.
Examples of tear apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For twenty years, street battles ensued, families were torn apart, and loyalties were tested as the two rival bands claimed ownership of the town’s Kerskoor with destructive and violent consequences.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
Wind shear is expected to be lower as the storm moves into the Gulf of Mexico, which reduces the risk that high cloud tops could be torn apart by opposing winds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024
With a nation divided by the Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief.
—EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Last December, Chabad’s menorah at Lake Merritt was torn apart and tossed into the lake during Hanukkah.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tear apart 
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
Wind shear is expected to be lower as the storm moves into the Gulf of Mexico, which reduces the risk that high cloud tops could be torn apart by opposing winds.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024
With a nation divided by the Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief.
—EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Last December, Chabad’s menorah at Lake Merritt was torn apart and tossed into the lake during Hanukkah.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tear apart
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tear apart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Tear apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20apart. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.
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