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
Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Buoyant bánh tiêu sesame doughnuts are paired with ribbons of prosciutto and peppy giardiniera for a Southeast Asian take on gnocco fritto.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Using a pastry bag, pipe the passion fruit cream in three ribbons lengthwise on each slice.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Participation in the survey is voluntary, and hospitals received 1, 2 or 3 ribbons based on their performance.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Among the schools was TCU, whose players and coaches also wore green ribbons on their lapels at Big 12 Media Days back in July, less than a week after the flood.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Finally, a Broncos coach with the resume and onions to talk about goals that don’t come with Capri Suns and participation ribbons.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
While hot chicken and ice cream eating contests are sure to be intense, the fair is planning to continue its tradition of handing out ribbons for several specialties, including baking, sewing, canning and photography, among others.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
First, politicians like to cut ribbons.
—Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
The animation literally transforms the fans’ love into a superpower beyond themselves, as neon ribbons shoot out of their hearts to envelop the girls onstage and, eventually, the entire crowd.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Buoyant bánh tiêu sesame doughnuts are paired with ribbons of prosciutto and peppy giardiniera for a Southeast Asian take on gnocco fritto.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Using a pastry bag, pipe the passion fruit cream in three ribbons lengthwise on each slice.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Participation in the survey is voluntary, and hospitals received 1, 2 or 3 ribbons based on their performance.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Among the schools was TCU, whose players and coaches also wore green ribbons on their lapels at Big 12 Media Days back in July, less than a week after the flood.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Finally, a Broncos coach with the resume and onions to talk about goals that don’t come with Capri Suns and participation ribbons.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
While hot chicken and ice cream eating contests are sure to be intense, the fair is planning to continue its tradition of handing out ribbons for several specialties, including baking, sewing, canning and photography, among others.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
First, politicians like to cut ribbons.
—Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbons
Noun
-
Winocour does better with some of the specifics, like the red adhesive biopsy strips placed around Maxine’s breasts, mirroring the patterning tape on mannequins in the workshop.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The adhesive strips on these nursing pads help keep them in place, even throughout the night.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In this kind of system, scientists theorize that the black hole tears the neutron star apart before swallowing it, which releases electromagnetic waves.—
Chad Hanna,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But as the war tears at civilian life, Sashi’s four brothers and their friend K are pulled into the conflict.—
Eliana Ramage
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Thing, who Isaac had sewn back onto his arm, regains his autonomy and rips Isaac’s heart out.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Roberts brings a jolt of invigorating fury to one of the movie’s strongest scenes, in which the mentor rips into her mentee in public on a campus square with a fully detailed character assassination.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump, by contrast, shreds regular procedures, shrugs off the expertise needed to bring policies to life, and promotes administrative incompetence in order to eliminate any authority other than himself.—
Russell Muirhead,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ribbons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbons. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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