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
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s an air of 2001 and Solaris; Black Widow more recently seems to have ripped off the design.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 2 Sep. 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
What is really remarkable is how real-life events, such as the Mangione incident, collided with the making of this movie (shot in only 19 days), and the disgruntlement of common people who feel they are being ripped off by billionaires and corporations.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s an air of 2001 and Solaris; Black Widow more recently seems to have ripped off the design.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
American officials have alleged that North Korea is engaged in a long-running effort to use cyberattacks, cryptocurrency theft and IT contractors to gather information on behalf of the government in Pyongyang.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Young Peter survived by theft and by begging.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
It must also be said that, for all the lamenting of the Netherlands’ failure to win, West Germany — and Muller — were robbed of a clear goal in the second half due to an erroneous offside flag.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
An insecure performer robs an audience of its belief in both the character and the entire enterprise.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
How can someone steal from you and simply get away with it?—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Two innings later, Martin singled, stole second base and eventually scored the winning run in a ninth-inning comeback victory.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Student use of artificial intelligence has become so prevalent, high school and college educators say, that to assign writing outside of the classroom is like asking students to cheat.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
There are things worse than cheating.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That delay came on the first day that passengers were able to swipe credit cards and ATM cards instead of Clipper cards in its new Tap and Ride system of pay.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The companies winning today are those that view payments as strategic capital flow tools, not just portals to swipe.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shakeups are the latest at a time when restaurants are squeezed between a labor shortage, rising food prices and a loss of customers as diners cut back on spending.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
-
For now, the three youngest each sleep in their own pack-and-plays squeezed into their parents’ bedroom.—
Jeff Truesdell,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet there’s a relaxed comfort to dinner in the airy concrete-floored loft, starting with the Taiwanese sausage that arrives as an early bite, wedged into homemade brioche like a tiny hot dog and plucked up between two fingers.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Orioles plucked him in the Rule 5 draft after a tragic plane crash claimed their top catching prospect.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of hustling for one-day bookings, Patel engineered a system where one client often meant three to five events—maximizing return and loyalty.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share