rip 1 of 3

1
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
Deckhands crank in the net and rip each individual fish out of the net they’re tangled up in. Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 But before the title even flashes on screen, we are granted the disturbingly detailed view of a bullet ripping through the face of a young boy. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
That was nothing against the rip curl. Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025 With the rip and the lack of a selloff even after the heights reached on a Friday afternoon, Monday’s importance can’t be underestimated, given the levels blown through by so many stocks. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
Verb
  • However, picking better candidates not only makes tactical sense but also removes much of the opportunity for the other side to tear them down.
    Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Less than two months later, Diggs tore his ACL in a standard weekly practice at The Star in Frisco, ending his season before it could really get started after just two games played.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That's when the state is planning to put Ralph Menzies to death for the murder of 25-year-old Maurine Hunsaker, a married mother of three who was found tied to a tree with her throat slit nearly 40 years ago.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • When Rochelle Luna, 18, arrived at the house hours later, Djerf bound, gagged and raped her before stabbing her and slitting her throat, the brief said.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • While some travelers choose to fly on Thanksgiving Day for lower prices and crowds, most leave at least a day early to avoid the risk of cancellations or delays upending their holiday plans.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Two games in, though, the Packers have passed both tests with flying colors.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Until George Springer yanked a 450-foot fly to the left-field bleachers, the lineup was ostensibly silent.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The same words apply to the title character at the film‘s center, the inscrutable and seemingly unscrupulous Hedda Gabler (a magnetic Tessa Thompson), here yanked firmly from the late 20th century setting of Henrik Ibsen’s iconic play into the ’50s, and not missing a single trick along the way.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The frigid air sliced through the open windows, bit the tips of my ears and my runny nose.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Under Glasner, Palace have built attacks quickly to slice through the opponents, with Mateta either linking the moves or dashing forward to be in a goalscoring position.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But a ship arrived and everyone hurried aboard without understanding a word of what the greeter was saying.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Some people never even showed, despite me calling them repeatedly to hurry up.
    Jack Hargreaves, The Dial, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Video surveillance from the scene posted online by Fox 11 shows a man lingering near a doorway, quickly grabbing the gift box from a table and running out of the venue.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The owner wanted to keep the grab-and-go options previously offered in the space.
    La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.
    Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The sharp drop in mortgage rates owes in part to government data showing a significant decline in hiring, which has heightened expectations that the Federal Reserve will slash interest rates and in turn put downward pressure on borrowing costs, some analysts told ABC News.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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