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
Another homeowner, as reported by Newsweek, found a vintage linoleum floor under a carpet after ripping it up during a renovation process. Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 The situation ripped the family apart as the daughter decided to go and the son chose to stay with mom at home. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
The manager doesn’t give a rip about the organizational recent history, the fact that the team had spanned eight years without a winning season since the World Series. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2025 There’s even a dedicated Reddit page, where diehards rip the rips, providing an archive in case themes get copyright struck. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
Verb
  • After Hurricane Helene tore through the region last fall, a resilient community came together to bring it back to life.
    Barbara Kingsolver, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The picture smacks you with mini-LED punch, deep contrast, and a 144 Hz refresh that keeps Valorant razor-smooth while AMD FreeSync stomps tearing.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rolling the pastry around the carrots and sealing the ends creates the traditional Wellington shape; decorative slits in the dough add visual interest and allow steam to escape while the log cooks.
    Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Then, fearing he'd be blamed, Tripp stole a knife from the office of pastry chef Didier Gotthard (Bronson Pinchot) and used it to slit A.B.'s wrists in order to make his death look more like a suicide.
    Megan McCluskey, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Dark Eagle is designed to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or 3,800 mph, with a reported range of 1,725 miles (2,775 kilometers), sufficient to reach Taiwan from Guam, or NATO's borders with Russia from Western Europe.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Chicago nearly tied it when Edgar Quero flew out to deep right field on a ball Lawrence Butler caught right in front of the wall.
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Kelly, the lifeguard, jumped off her perch and yanked Harel back, toward the lockers, by the hair.
    Adam Levin, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
  • And when he’s actually pulled away and thrown into the back of a cab, Kilmer’s exit is as unceremonious as a cable yanked out from an amp, leaving viewers drifting along the film’s woozy currents.
    Beatrice Loayza, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The wall slices through the home, guiding you from the open-air atrium to indoor living spaces, all wrapped in sliding glass and shadow play.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Landeskog initially hurt his right knee during the 2020 playoffs, when it was sliced by teammate Cale Makar’s skate after the defenseman had fallen to the ice.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Ron hurried to change positions before the tom flew down.
    Thomas Weddle, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Traders in January hurried to build up inventories ahead of tariffs, according to a recent USA TODAY analysis.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Marsh male warbler simultaneously serenades its partner while grabbing a quick snack.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Rams: After winning the 2024 draft, their biggest news this year was Sean McVay & Co. grabbing the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The Trump administration wants to significantly cut NASA’s budget next year, slashing science research funding in half, a reduction that would halt the launch of a high-tech space telescope and curtail other planetary exploration missions.
    George Petras, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Nimmo is slashing mere .202/.253/.381 this season, but Sunday’s heroics could be a sign of changing fortune.
    James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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