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
Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Set the scene Crossing the Rickenbacker Causeway from the Miami mainland, sapphire water flanks ribbons of highway on both sides.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
Bows are nothing new, but this year, Graciano predicts an uptick of slimmer, more subtle ribbons, rather than the oversized loops that were popular in seasons past.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
Fidget blankets are small quilts covered with different textures and things like ribbons, buttons and pockets that help people keep their hands busy while also providing sensory stimulation.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
When the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center opened in May, Mayor John McCann saw more than just Marriott’s largest property cutting ribbons on the city’s bayfront.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
According to animal rights advocates, balloons can be harmful to birds and marine life, such as fish and turtles, who can mistake the balloon debris for food and get entangled in ribbons.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
Plus, the twirls on the cup are also inspired by the garlands and velvet ribbons that the coffee shops hang up for the holidays.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Daguerreotypes, jewelry, and laptops were also taken, as were memorabilia such as political pins and award ribbons.
—News Desk, Artforum, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
And while the traditional ice rink is still popular, skating ribbons and forest skating trails are popping up across the Midwest to offer a different kind of thrill.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Set the scene Crossing the Rickenbacker Causeway from the Miami mainland, sapphire water flanks ribbons of highway on both sides.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
Bows are nothing new, but this year, Graciano predicts an uptick of slimmer, more subtle ribbons, rather than the oversized loops that were popular in seasons past.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
Fidget blankets are small quilts covered with different textures and things like ribbons, buttons and pockets that help people keep their hands busy while also providing sensory stimulation.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
When the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center opened in May, Mayor John McCann saw more than just Marriott’s largest property cutting ribbons on the city’s bayfront.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
According to animal rights advocates, balloons can be harmful to birds and marine life, such as fish and turtles, who can mistake the balloon debris for food and get entangled in ribbons.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
Plus, the twirls on the cup are also inspired by the garlands and velvet ribbons that the coffee shops hang up for the holidays.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Daguerreotypes, jewelry, and laptops were also taken, as were memorabilia such as political pins and award ribbons.
—News Desk, Artforum, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbons
Noun
-
The task force usually passes out kits that include fentanyl detection strips inside plastic sandwich bags, along with sterile water and little paper condiment cups, which are used to perform the test; illicit pills should be crushed first before testing.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The second dream was about her legs being cut into strips like pieces of flank steak.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This is definitely something that tears at your heartstrings.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
These bags keep the items from experiencing friction that tears at the fibers.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Eleven flies up to be face-to-face with the Mind Flayer, rips out his throat, jumps inside, and in one sleek-as-hell move, rips Vecna down from the Mind Flayer power source he’s been plugged into.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
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In the clip, Oshry, who welcomed her first son Reuben, with her husband, Ben Soffer, in May, reaches into her fridge to grab a head of cabbage, then rips open her animal-print bathrobe to show a compression bra stuffed with cabbage leaves.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The chicken shreds beautifully in this dish, and the vegetables become soft and tender.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Extreme weather at the poles stresses crucial moss and lichen, and shreds entire habitats in hours.—
Marion Renault,
The Atlantic,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ribbons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbons. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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