Synonyms of rip

rip 1 of 3

verb

ˈrip 

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

• tear
• rend
• shred
• cut
• split
• break
• ribbon
• rive
• slash
• tatter
• cleave
• rupture
• lacerate
• dissect
• incise
• mangle
• dismember
• hack
• butcher
• gash

2

as in to slit

to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)

you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slit
• slice
• slash
• cut
• pierce
• stab
• split
• bruise
• shear
• tear
• incise
• chop
• gash
• sever
• cleave
• rend
• carve
• crosscut
• dissect
• saw
• rive
• hack
• chip
• butcher
• mangle
• haggle
• lacerate
• section
• chisel
• scissor
• hacksaw
• cut off
• notch
• amputate
• mince
• dice
• anatomize

3

as in to fly

to proceed or move quickly

the car went ripping down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fly
• hurry
• speed
• rush
• drive
• scurry
• race
• travel
• chase
• zip
• jump
• trot
• run
• blow
• tear
• scoot
• scuttle
• buzz
• dart
• blast
• step
• hurl
• shoot
• dash
• ram
• bolt
• jog
• whirl
• zoom
• breeze
• rustle
• jet
• hasten
• bowl
• crack (on)
• motor
• hie
• course
• hustle
• blaze
• belt
• hurtle
• bundle
• whisk
• career
• careen
• rocket
• pelt
• beat it
• nip
• hump
• barrel
• get a move on
• step on it
• hare
• make tracks
• gallop
• bomb
• highball
• bustle
• shake a leg
• cannonball
• hotfoot (it)
• flit
• scamper
• accelerate
• streak
• sprint
• beetle
• overtake
• stampede
• quicken
• step out
• outrun
• whiz
• outstrip
• catch up
• outpace
• scud
• scuffle
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawl
• drag
• creep
• poke
• linger
• hang (around or out)
• poke
• lag
• loiter
• stroll
• dawdle
• shuffle
• tarry
• saunter
• amble
• lumber
• slow (down or up)
• plod
• decelerate
• dillydally
• dally

4

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

rip a sheet off the pad of paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tear
• yank
• grab
• pull
• snatch
• wrench
• wrest
• pry
• extract
• cut (off)
• seize
• sever
• snap (up)
• force
• amputate
• uproot
• nab
• lop (off)
• nip
• jerk
• dissever
• prize
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattach

rip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in tear

a long deep cut

the hoe left rips in the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tear
• slit
• scratch
• rent
• slash
• fracture
• incision
• injury
• wound
• gash
• laceration
• scrape
• score
• abrasion
• crack
• rupture
• snag

rip

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in pervert

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard

something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pervert
• degenerate
• rake
• deviate
• villain
• libertine
• playboy
• backslider
• derelict
• debaucher
• profligate
• debauchee
• perv
• heel
• bankrupt
• rakehell
• decadent
• rogue
• delinquent
• knave
• scoundrel
• cad
• reprobate
• blackguard
• sicko
• sickie
• satyr
• incorrigible
• rascal
• miscreant
• lecher
• playgirl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• saint

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

Recent Examples of rip

Verb

The speech is also a kind of litmus test for translators and adaptors, an opportunity for a politically progressive character to let rip not simply against general human hypocrisy but against the particular sins of a moment. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

In a viral video, Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez ripped the Braves for forcing Thomas to stay in the game so long. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

In one painting, Jerry’s head peeps through a rip in the paper ceiling above his father, who sits in an easy chair below; in another, old Jerry sits at the kitchen table talking to his young mother, easily half his age. — Chris Ware, The New York Review of Books, 12 Aug. 2026

The last movie had crazy stuff going on with the multiverse, multiple Spider-Men, and rips in the space-time continuum. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing rip

• rip off