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 travelling
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
Vaccaro accused Hill of throwing her to the ground, ripping her hair out, twisting body parts, spitting on her and shoving a marijuana cigarette in her face, according to the TMZ article.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
The Camp Fire, California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire, is a few hours off from igniting and ripping through the town of Paradise and its neighbors, but the stage is set.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Jordan immediately went to work ripping the tile out and scraping out the mortar, and I got started on an email to the tile company.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Freeland gladly accepted the gift, ripping it into the right field seats for his first major-league home run – and the Dodgers’ only hit off Darvish.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Aug. 2025
For card collectors, ripping open a new pack and pulling a rare card can evoke a lot of emotion.
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
This is akin to the massive star effectively ripping itself apart before its supernova death.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, fires, by ripping households and neighborhoods apart, only compounded the stress.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
The Camp Fire, California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire, is a few hours off from igniting and ripping through the town of Paradise and its neighbors, but the stage is set.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Jordan immediately went to work ripping the tile out and scraping out the mortar, and I got started on an email to the tile company.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Freeland gladly accepted the gift, ripping it into the right field seats for his first major-league home run – and the Dodgers’ only hit off Darvish.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Aug. 2025
For card collectors, ripping open a new pack and pulling a rare card can evoke a lot of emotion.
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
This is akin to the massive star effectively ripping itself apart before its supernova death.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, fires, by ripping households and neighborhoods apart, only compounded the stress.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping
Verb
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Rodgers had a very forgettable two-year run as the Jets QB over the last two seasons, leading the team to a 5-12 record in 2024 after missing all of the 2023 season after tearing his Achilles in the season opener that year.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Missed the final 14 games last year after tearing his ACL at Tampa.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Let stand until glaze firms up, about 15 minutes, before slicing and serving.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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The line will run along the Interstate 15 corridor, slicing through the San Bernardino Mountains and across the desert.—
Ben Jones,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But some lawmakers say that argument is baseless and that yanking the grants has left the state less equipped to prevent tragedies like this week’s attack at Annunciation Catholic School.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
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See, for example, Trump yanking the security clearances of former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs for his defense of the 2020 election as securely run.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When Rochelle Luna, 18, arrived at the house hours later, Djerf bound, gagged and raped her before stabbing her and slitting her throat, the brief said.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Wiley led the Panthers with 80 yards rushing and a touchdown.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than a month after his death, Ozzy Osbourne’s music has largely slipped away from the Billboard charts following the headline-grabbing news that one of rock’s founding fathers had passed away.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Witnesses and lawmakers wrestled with NASA’s budget priorities, highlighting concern that the administration’s 2026 budget request tilts heavily toward exploration while slashing science programs.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Such reviews have led to companies clearing the deck for new CEOs by slashing top and bottom line expectations, leaving stocks vulnerable to steep corrections.—
Chloe Taylor,Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sterile cockpit rule prohibits pilots from engaging in conversations unrelated to operating the aircraft when flying below 10,000 feet.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps the easiest was an airplane flying overhead.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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