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
Rich Juzwiak, Time, 25 June 2025
Great White Year: 1981 Director: Enzo G. Castellari Runtime: 1h 28m
Few Jaws rip-offs are quite as bald-faced in their theft as Great White, an Italian production directed by Enzo G. Castellari.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
Since that night the Red Sox have gone 5-8 in their last 13 games while the Guardians have ripped off an incredible 13-2 run, vaulting themselves right back into the conversation.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Noun
Bachelor rip-offs like early Bravo series Boy Meets Boy and Logo’s Finding Prince Charming have, predictably, focused on men, as has Netflix’s Japanese dating show The Boyfriend.
—Rich Juzwiak, Time, 25 June 2025
Great White Year: 1981 Director: Enzo G. Castellari Runtime: 1h 28m
Few Jaws rip-offs are quite as bald-faced in their theft as Great White, an Italian production directed by Enzo G. Castellari.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
Verb
Even when Osborne dips into country or wraps with a hint of reggae, its songs rip – if only in the sense of ripping off a Band-Aid.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
Since that night the Red Sox have gone 5-8 in their last 13 games while the Guardians have ripped off an incredible 13-2 run, vaulting themselves right back into the conversation.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
Online court records indicated to investigators that Arfsten was released on bail in a felony theft case at the time of the South Milwaukee incident.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the commandments overlap with criminal law, such as prohibitions on murder and theft, but others do not.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Three years before the famed film was released, Wojtowicz and a friend held up a Brooklyn bank in a 14-hour hostage ordeal, allegedly robbing the bank to help pay for his transgender partner’s gender-affirming surgery.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
We’ve been truly robbed of many things throughout the 2020s.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Of course, due to all of these developments, everyone finally knows that the man who kidnapped Sam and stole the dope is Robbie Pendergrast.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
But their double life gets complicated when a rival boy band harboring a sinister secret starts to steal their fans.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The scandal exposed how some wealthy families cheated and bribed to secure spots for their children at elite universities, sparking nationwide outrage over denied opportunities for more deserving students.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t the first time that the couple was surrounded by cheating rumors.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The charging bear slams against the car as the door closes, swiping at the space where the man's head was moments before.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
One Philadelphia fan said seven tickets acquired for their brother’s bachelor party were swiped sometime before the day of the game.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Reds squeezed into the third wild-card slot for their first playoff appearance in five years.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Some people who have bought homes in the last few years feel squeezed by monthly payments that leave little cash left over.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sofia Coppola’s cult-favorite (if historically murky-at-best) 2006 film Marie Antoinette plucked the queen from history-book pages and pasted her on contemporary mood boards.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Simply plucking young stars from viewers’ social-media feeds won’t radically alter or refresh SNL.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jackson hustles to his seat in the audience, dead center, behind the main cameras as the chat begins.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The costume department hustles to reattach a limping sole as the star breathes through the heat.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share