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
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Recent Examples of rending
There’s also a poem that Anders gave Winslet for Mother’s Day years ago, and which plays a pivotal role in Goodbye June’s heart-rending climax.
—
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rending
Verb
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Suddenly, there’s dozens of supervillains tearing the place (and each other) apart.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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Kraft was on pace to have an even stronger year in 2025, having already logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before tearing his ACL.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The mayor called on ICE agents to leave the city, asserting that federal immigration authorities were ripping families apart and sowing chaos on Minneapolis streets.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
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When Miller tried to grab the mother’s gun, Adams tried to pull him away from it, ripping Miller’s shirt.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rending. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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