tear at

phrase

: to cause anguish to : distress

her grief tore at his heart

Examples of tear at in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Far too many Americans have cheered on the men tearing at the temple. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026

Custer’s widow, Elizabeth, who helped cement her husband’s heroic reputation, was said to have been moved to tears at the sight of the painting. — New York Times, 28 June 2026

Rhymes for tear at

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat