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
As a junior, the 6-2, 265-pound edge rusher tore apart opposing offenses, setting an NCAA record with 24 sacks to go along with 31.5 TFLs and six forced fumbles, sparking ASU to its first winning season in six years.
—
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The country, only 75 years old, was bitterly torn apart by competing views on whether the practice of slavery was a legal right or a mortal sin.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
The flashy sequences of violence feel apt for TV (Netflix, along with Steven Spielberg’s production outfit and the Obamas’ media company, is working on a series), but the novel’s real draw is the quieter ache of a family torn apart.
—The Atlantic, 15 May 2025
Despite Coppola’s $120 million investment in the epic blockbuster, Megalopolis was torn apart by critics, earning $14.3M worldwide.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear apart
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Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The country, only 75 years old, was bitterly torn apart by competing views on whether the practice of slavery was a legal right or a mortal sin.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
The flashy sequences of violence feel apt for TV (Netflix, along with Steven Spielberg’s production outfit and the Obamas’ media company, is working on a series), but the novel’s real draw is the quieter ache of a family torn apart.
—The Atlantic, 15 May 2025
Despite Coppola’s $120 million investment in the epic blockbuster, Megalopolis was torn apart by critics, earning $14.3M worldwide.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 May 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 29 May. 2025.
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