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rend

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of rend

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
  • people rending their garments in mourning
Synonyms of rend

rip, rive, shred, tatter, tear
Words Related to rend

break, cleave, rupture, split

cut, gash, incise, lacerate, slash

butcher, dismember, dissect, hack, mangle

Synonym Discussion of rend

tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.
    • tear up the letter
rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.
    • ripped the shirt on a nail
rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.
    • an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes
split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.
    • split logs for firewood
cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.
    • a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak
rive occurs most often in figurative use.
    • a political party riven by conflict

Learn More about rend

  1. See words that rhyme with rend Dictionary: Definition of rend Spanish Central: Translation of rend Nglish: Translation of rend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rend for Arabic speakers

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