as in tears
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 ribbons
Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The girls danced and sang to Taylor Swift blaring through speakers, their ponytails tied up with red sparkly ribbons and their small hands waving shiny pom-poms as their giggles filled the football field.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The ribbons are now being worn by employees at El Charro, the Tucson restaurant where Guthrie had lunch with her daughters just months before her disappearance.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Others have colorful ribbons and large bells tied to the branches, ready to be rung by successful competitors.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Yellow ribbons symbolizing support for Guthrie, matching the vibrant flowers on the brittlebrush plants native to the area, dot her neighbors’ mailboxes, and in some cases, their cacti.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the Northern Hemisphere.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Notably, the bandeau top had an intentionally unique neckline with geometric cutouts and layered fabric that created the illusion of unstitched ribbons A silver zipper ran from the mid-back to the hem of the skirt, which hit just below Gellar's knees.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
Layer ribbons of beets, radishes, carrots, and fennel over a spring mix, and drizzle with the white balsamic vinaigrette.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
Drawing inspiration from Italian stracciatella and Chinese egg drop soups, two of my all-time favorites, the broth is lightly seasoned, then bolstered with leafy greens and gingery egg ribbons.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The girls danced and sang to Taylor Swift blaring through speakers, their ponytails tied up with red sparkly ribbons and their small hands waving shiny pom-poms as their giggles filled the football field.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The ribbons are now being worn by employees at El Charro, the Tucson restaurant where Guthrie had lunch with her daughters just months before her disappearance.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Others have colorful ribbons and large bells tied to the branches, ready to be rung by successful competitors.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Yellow ribbons symbolizing support for Guthrie, matching the vibrant flowers on the brittlebrush plants native to the area, dot her neighbors’ mailboxes, and in some cases, their cacti.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the Northern Hemisphere.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Notably, the bandeau top had an intentionally unique neckline with geometric cutouts and layered fabric that created the illusion of unstitched ribbons A silver zipper ran from the mid-back to the hem of the skirt, which hit just below Gellar's knees.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
Layer ribbons of beets, radishes, carrots, and fennel over a spring mix, and drizzle with the white balsamic vinaigrette.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbons
Noun
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Betts has partnerships with Venmo, Sprouts and NYX Cosmetics, for example, and Kiki Rice has linked up with Neutrogena, CVS and Command strips.—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The facility was missing sanitizer testing strips.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the oyster tears slightly, don’t panic; flavor matters much more than perfection.—
Rai Mincey,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
His scientist creator, Victor Frankenstein, reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment tears the unfinished mate limb from limb as the creature watches on in horror.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spanning 180 acres between four of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods, Sunnyside Yard is a steel and asphalt scar that rips across Western Queens — serving those passing through, not those that call this borough home.—
Ben Guttmann,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pour the soup mixture over the vegetables and continue to cook until the chicken easily shreds with a fork.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
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This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribbons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbons. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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