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Definition of ripnext
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as in to tear
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rip

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noun (1)

rip

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noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rip different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave, rend, rive, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When might cleave be a better fit than rip?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of rip?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When could rive be used to replace rip?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can split take the place of rip?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip, split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

Where would tear be a reasonable alternative to rip?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

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 rip
Verb
The fire on May 28 ripped through the Utumishi Girls School dormitory that houses 202 students. ABC News, 3 June 2026 The dimple in the mattress stretches into a deep depression, one that essentially rips all the way through. Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026
Noun
Scroll down to see a rip of that one. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026 No photos in the living room — a policy that tightened after guests snapped pictures of Taylor Swift with Matty Healy — and a dress code that allows jeans, but the expensive kind with no rips. George Gurley, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
Verb
  • The Canes have absolutely torn through the Eastern Conference en route to their third Cup Final appearance in franchise history.
    Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
  • Shooting in Los Angeles under a California tax credit this month, Little One watches as a sudden change in a child’s behavior threatens to tear a picture-perfect family apart.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Before police took him into custody, Tran slit his wrists, cut his neck and poked the blade into his stomach, but all of the wounds were superficial.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
  • If it’s baked in a loaf pan, go ahead and slit the top of the batter before baking.
    Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Starship and Blue Moon both have a ways to go before NASA will certify the vehicles to fly astronauts, so any time lost on that front by Blue Origin could further narrow NASA's options and increase the risk of setbacks to the agency's lunar landing timeline.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 June 2026
  • To better understand the challenges Blue Origin now faces, Ars spoke with several SpaceX veterans who experienced the AMOS-6 failure and worked the long days afterward to get the Falcon 9 rocket flying and rebuild the shattered facility at Space Launch Complex-40.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The Venice Biennale opened its most chaotic and contested edition in recent memory on May 9, with the prestigious Golden Lion yanked from contention after the jury quit in protest of Israel’s and Russia’s participation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026
  • Investors in Blackstone’s flagship private credit fund sought to yank 10% of their money this quarter, showing that the jitters engulfing the industry may be deepening.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.
    Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
  • You are being spied on by a pervert.
    Jay Ruttenberg, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • English Cucumbers English cucumbers, also known as greenhouse, European, or seedless cucumbers, are a type of slicing cucumber known for their softer seeds and thinner skin, which is why they're wrapped in plastic when sold at supermarkets.
    Susan Hall Mahon, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
  • This is because the main enemies in this game look to be large chitinous alien monsters, which your titular Gundam can slice into tiny pieces.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Gardner, the activist, hurried over, tapped Nereyda on the shoulder and pointed toward the pit.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
  • The baseball team beat Calvin Christian 7-1, then hurried across the plaza at SDSU — about 50 yards — to cheer the girls on.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s plenty to see and do on this one street—stop by Colonial Park Cemetery, established in 1750; the Juliet Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, honoring the founder of the Girl Scouts; then grab a bite at Marbled & Fin, where luxe appetizers and aged steaks reign supreme.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026
  • After Corbin made his introduction to the Islanders as a whole back at the fire pit, Melanie was the first to grab him for a chat.
    Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 9 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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