Thesaurus results for 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

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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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rending

Verb

Kyrie Irving had 15 points for Dallas in his first regular-season game since tearing his left ACL in March 2025.

— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
This is music pulled clingwrap-tight, close to tearing, around dozens of little thoughts.

— Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tearing

Verb

However, Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz broke through, ripping a leadoff double into the left-center gap for the team’s first baserunner of the game.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Assumed to be overseas in Dubai, UAE for the past few years, the 75-year old is accused of ripping California banks off to the tune of more than $29 million starting in 2017.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026