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
Many have speculated that Kubrick was not finished with the film — an erotic mystery starring a very real couple as a fictional one torn apart by jealousy and infidelity over one night in New York City — or even pleased with the version sent to brass.
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Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
Pat Bryant has never forgotten that, from Duval County to Illinois to the Broncos, through years fighting the gravitational pull that’s torn apart his inner circle.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
In the aftermath, human rights advocates have questioned the tactics used and criticized law enforcement for tearing apart families and instigating fear in the community.
—Idaho Statesman, 14 Nov. 2025
And yet, amidst the joy, there lingered a silent acknowledgment of our losses, of the lives stolen, of homes destroyed, and families torn apart.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear apart
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Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
Pat Bryant has never forgotten that, from Duval County to Illinois to the Broncos, through years fighting the gravitational pull that’s torn apart his inner circle.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
In the aftermath, human rights advocates have questioned the tactics used and criticized law enforcement for tearing apart families and instigating fear in the community.
—Idaho Statesman, 14 Nov. 2025
And yet, amidst the joy, there lingered a silent acknowledgment of our losses, of the lives stolen, of homes destroyed, and families torn apart.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear apart
Cite this Entry
“Tear apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20apart. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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