tear apart

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 figuratively

The 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

Angela Pacalagua recounted how her family was torn apart when her 19-year-old daughter, Brianna Michelle Pacalagua, and four of her friends were killed by a drunk driver in a wrong-way crash on the Palmetto Expressway. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

The series showcases a town torn apart by heinous crimes, while centering Jonah, a grieving man determined to get answers by any means necessary. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026

In Frisco, Texas, opposition to Hindu temples and a mosque fueled claims of an Indian takeover, and a protester tore apart an Indian flag near City Hall. — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Thomas and Erika arrive in a Germany torn apart and the ruptures within their family are nearly as tumultuous. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for tear apart

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