as in to tear
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
over the years the historic flag had become badly ribboned by the wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ribbon
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Check out the full top ten below, courtesy of Assisted Living Magazine:
Main Street, Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid’s Main Street runs like a ribbon beside Mirror Lake, reflecting the mountains and inviting walkers to slow down and take it in.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 July 2025
Maria Shollenbarger, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2022
The Hoover Dam went from legislation to ribbon cutting in eight years.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for ribbon
Noun
Lurie has leaned into that visibility, walking the long-troubled Tenderloin district with police, cutting ribbons at treatment centers and projecting a constant state of optimism across social media.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Check out the full top ten below, courtesy of Assisted Living Magazine:
Main Street, Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid’s Main Street runs like a ribbon beside Mirror Lake, reflecting the mountains and inviting walkers to slow down and take it in.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 July 2025
Verb
As the road began to ribbon up and around the southern slope of the mountain, everything subtly shifted.
—Maria Shollenbarger, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2022
The Hoover Dam went from legislation to ribbon cutting in eight years.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for ribbon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbon
Noun
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The series of black-and-white photos showed the then-family of four in different poses and holding up a sonogram strip.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Leaving a bare or gravel strip about 18 to 24 inches wide next to your home may deter them.3 Cut back branches that touch your house to prevent easy access.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But then, there is never a good time for a footballer to tear their ACL, given the long and gruelling nature of the rehabilitation process.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
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The kids proceed to chase her through town before mercilessly tearing her apart.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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His left leg, almost ripped from his body, was held in place only by thin tissue.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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Nothing rips me out of the ‘cassette futurism’ of this franchise more than clips from a movie that released in 2002.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ribbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbon. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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