1
as in to tear
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to slit
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to fly
to proceed or move quickly
the car went ripping down the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
rip a sheet off the pad of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rip
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 27 June 2025
This is particularly common if plants are growing up against fencing or trellises with sharp corners that may rip into soft leaf tissue.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 22 May 2025
Inspect The Duvet's Condition Next, examine your duvet for any rips, tears, or stains.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip
Verb
Later that morning, the bear ripped open the door of a camper-van with teenagers sleeping inside and then was reported harassing other campers at the same campground, according to state wildlife officials.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 27 June 2025
This is particularly common if plants are growing up against fencing or trellises with sharp corners that may rip into soft leaf tissue.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Noun
Instead, fans could only listen via a post on his Instagram account on Wednesday (May 21) or the several audio rips floating around the internet.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 22 May 2025
Inspect The Duvet's Condition Next, examine your duvet for any rips, tears, or stains.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
Verb
-
Governor Phil Murphy responded Thursday night to a deadly line of severe thunderstorms that tore through Central New Jersey, killing three people and leaving tens of thousands without power.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
-
Movie Night 2025 is bound to bring couples together or tear them apart.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Satomi followed her 11-year-old friend to a nearby study room, where — after drawing the curtains — the girl slit Satomi’s throat with a box cutter and kicked her in the head and sides, The Washington Post reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
15 June 2025
-
Then, the family members would drag their victim to a hidden cellar on the property and slit the victim’s throat, leaving them there to die.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
Passengers flying in the United States at certain airports are no longer required to take off their shoes when going through security lines, according to news outlets including CBS News and The New York Times on Monday.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
After his strike flew past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, Jimenez briefly celebrated with his teammates before sitting on the turf at NRG Stadium, pulling out a Mexico jersey with Jota’s name and number (#20), and mimicking playing a video game.—
Martin Rogers,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
The injunction holds that the administration is blocked from yanking Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which was based on a May 22 revocation notice the Department of Homeland Security sent to Harvard administrators.—
Emily Berk,
NBC news,
20 June 2025
-
There was a collective gasp when Ohtani yanked a pitch that sailed to the backstop, allowing Tatis to get to second base.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
Here’s how to segment a lemon: Step 1: Peel the lemon: Using a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife, slice the top and bottom from the lemon to reveal the fruit.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
-
The Police Department’s rescue boat sliced across the choppy water toward the Johnstons’ MasterCraft.—
Ethan Wolin
Updated July 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
If Tehran now hurries to make atomic bombs in secret — and if other countries in the region then build their own nukes for self-protection — the tactical triumph of Midnight Hammer will turn into a strategic disaster.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
-
Gladys told her mother to hurry up and prepare dinner before 6 p.m., when the whole family usually sat down together.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
Now, folks heading to Shenandoah National Park or beyond can grab some gas, hit the jerky wall, nab a Dr Pepper Icee, load up on fudge, use the famously clean bathrooms, and stock up on Buc-ee’s merch before heading back out on the road.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
-
My father seemed to crumple a little, shuddering, grabbing the edge of his desk to steady himself.—
Ottessa Moshfegh,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Trump also suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — the cost-cutting division unpopular among Americans that Musk led before exiting the administration in late May — might consider slashing incentives that Musk’s companies receive from the U.S. government.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
1 July 2025
-
Norms are being shattered, aid budgets for the poorest and most vulnerable are being slashed, and for the first time in a generation, extreme poverty has been on the rise.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share