Synonyms of rending

rending

verb

present participle of rend

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

• tearing
• ripping
• shredding
• riving
• splitting
• tattering
• breaking
• cutting
• cleaving
• ribboning
• slashing
• rupturing
• lacerating
• dissecting
• mangling
• incising
• gashing
• dismembering
• butchering
• hacking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rending

Two rising stars could land their first Oscar nominations this award season for heart-rending performances. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Through four series, Spartacus encounters brutal battles, heart-rending betrayals, and more. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026

The German priest’s criticisms of the Catholic Church sparked the Protestant Reformation, rending Christianity in two. — Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026

The excellent Julian Quinones’ early goal settled any nerves and then came the emotive, heart-rending second from talisman Raul Jimenez in the second half. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Our mopey heroine is Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall), a 28-year-old obituary writer who grew up spending summers lakeside in a small Canadian town but hasn’t been back since her world-rending split with Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), the boy next door. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026

By that point however, Reeves says Smith’s vice had become truly life-rending. — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 1 June 2026

More notable still, perhaps, is the fact that calling for the release of the Epstein files has seemed to cut across the myriad divisions rending the Democratic Party. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

Guthrie’s willingness to take part in an interview with a visibly emotional Kotb was heart-rending. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026