1
as in tearing
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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2
as in slicing
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rushing
to proceed or move quickly
the car went ripping down the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
rip a sheet off the pad of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ripping
While at Hewlett High, he and a friend were kicked out for ripping a bong hit in the dean’s bathroom.
—
Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The duo greatly expanded their sample library, ripping random melodies from thrift-store records and manipulating their own field recordings.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
The entire industry that both CAT and DE reside in has been ripping.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Bodega owners are not ripping people off.
—Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Like a wormhole opening between the two men, a bridge ripping through spacetime to connect disparate realities.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Workers began ripping out the 9-year-old artificial turf at Soldier Field.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The duo greatly expanded their sample library, ripping random melodies from thrift-store records and manipulating their own field recordings.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
The entire industry that both CAT and DE reside in has been ripping.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Bodega owners are not ripping people off.
—Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Like a wormhole opening between the two men, a bridge ripping through spacetime to connect disparate realities.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Workers began ripping out the 9-year-old artificial turf at Soldier Field.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping
Verb
-
Captain, top-line center and three-time Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov never played a game this season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee less than an hour into his first training camp practice.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After striking out in the second inning, first baseman Rafael Devers broke his bat by slamming it to the ground, then finishing it off by tearing it in two.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The crash C-section requires multiple prosthetics, a complicated sequence of surgical tasks, and on-the-fly adjustments as the SFX team and the actors figure out how to make a fake doctor slicing into a fake pregnant belly seem real.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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Tasks spanned from basic pick-and-place actions to more advanced, multi-step activities such as slicing an apple or assembling a breakfast tray.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His friends can be seen rushing to him and carrying his body away.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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And after spending all that money on Jaelan Phillips and picking two edge rushers in their first three picks in 2025, choosing another pass-rushing linebacker like Mesidor in the first round doesn’t make sense to me.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supporters in labor unions and in the House soon began yanking their endorsements.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believed Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball should have been ejected after yanking on star center Bam Adebayo’s foot, causing an injury to his lower back.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The prosecutor said Tran tried to take his own life by slitting a wrist, cutting his neck and poking a blade into his stomach.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
-
When Rochelle Luna, 18, arrived at the house hours later, Djerf bound, gagged and raped her before stabbing her and slitting her throat, court records said.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Having conceded twice in a losing effort last weekend at Portland for their first blemish of the year, LAFC met up with an Earthquakes (7-1-0, 21 points) team that was flying high under sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Bruins teammates didn’t pack any of their belongings before flying to New York to attend the draft, but after another cross-country flight home to Los Angeles, the pair had barely 24 hours to put their entire lives in boxes before heading back to the East Coast to join the Connecticut Sun.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One person in a Gerrit Cole jersey threw a nasty right hook after grabbing someone from behind.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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Former Mayor Bill de Blasio similarly drew ridicule when he was caught using a knife and fork to eat pizza instead of grabbing the slice with his hands like any real New Yorker paisano would.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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She has been arrested for slashing her sister’s neck with a box cutter and biting the breast of a security guard outside a nightclub.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
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While Sunbelt sellers are slashing prices to clear inventory, Ohio sellers are watching their equity grow.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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