as in tearing
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the prophecy that the disaster would cause people to rend their garments in mourning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rending
Verb
-
The hawk was found, unable to fly, on a picnic table at a San Jose park in late July, suffering from an open head wound and tearing and swelling in her right eye — impacting her vision, which is integral to hunting for food, according to a press release from PHS/SPCA.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025 -
But one player who could be nearing closer to a return is All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t played since tearing his ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 of last season.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For many hobbyists, the excitement — and gamble — of ripping packs is the best thing about the collecting experience.—
Mark Billingsley,
Sacbee.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
These were easier for ripping open to see the interior and for dipping by hand.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rending. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share