1
as in to rob
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that a whole slew of suppliers had been ripping off the defense department
Synonyms & Similar Words
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-off
Nick Duffy, NBC news, 15 June 2025
No deals have been reached with America’s largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China, which is the single biggest contributor to the bulging U.S. trade deficit that Trump calls a rip-off for the American people.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Johnson had a nine-yard TD run, one week after ripping off a 39-yard scoring run against the Jets.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Noun
But steeper prices during peak periods and for short-notice visits could rankle guests — who may see anything less than a top-notch experience as a rip-off.
—Nick Duffy, NBC news, 15 June 2025
No deals have been reached with America’s largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China, which is the single biggest contributor to the bulging U.S. trade deficit that Trump calls a rip-off for the American people.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
Verb
The Eagles proceeded to rip off 11 straight wins before their season ended with a disappointing 45-7 shellacking by eventual champion Broomfield in the semifinals.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Johnson had a nine-yard TD run, one week after ripping off a 39-yard scoring run against the Jets.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
The tactics have transcended low-level website defacements and data theft too and now extend to more destructive attacks on systems such as energy grids, gas pipelines, and undersea cables.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For Christians, the Bible is the word of God, and turning that word into short-form viral content robs it of its power.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
-
But 1976 had nobody — and not even anybody, in fairness, who can feel particularly ‘robbed’ of an England cap.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bots would impersonate beneficiaries, using dates of birth and other information that can be found on the internet, to try to change the beneficiaries’ bank-routing information and steal their benefits.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Through the first week of September, Soto stole three bases.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In June 2009, Kate filed for divorce following cheating allegations surrounding Jon.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Park Min-young played a timid wife seeking revenge on her cheating man in Marry My Husband.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The brief clip shows 8-year-old Basil perched confidently in front of a sprinkler on a lush patch of grass, energetically swiping at jets of water spraying into the air.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
-
The feature presents around 250 likely candidates for removal – such as large files or blurry images – and asks you to swipe right to keep them or left to delete.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Industry leaders such as Denmark’s Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and General Electric have been squeezed by rising component prices, high interest rates, and wavering government support.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
-
At the same time, corporations and government agencies have enforced return-to-office mandates that disproportionately squeeze caregivers.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There may be even greater reasons to put an ad that plucks the heartstrings in front of a broader crowd.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Through the BirdReturns farmlands program, late-summer fields are filled with a shallow 2- to 4-inch depth, allowing shorebirds to pluck bugs from the mud beneath the water.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Farnaz Farjam, one of the show’s executive producers, told Deadline that the production hustled to find a way to capture all three elements.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The band hustled to build their social-media accounts, play shows, and produce a new EP.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share