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
That’s why the album has gone down in history, the ultimate case of a superstar ripping it up to start again, in the mode of Kid A or Achtung Baby, Bowie in Berlin or Neil Young heading for the ditch.
—
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
As a result of the accelerating AWS story and continued solid margin performance, Amazon shares are ripping about 13% higher in after-hours trading to about $252.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Check out video of Flav watching practice, posing with members of Team USA and ripping down the track in a bobsled and skeleton.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Adidas did the same thing with an AE1 commercial ripping a bunch of shoes, including LaMelo Ball’s shoe with Puma.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
For now, the issue is settled by the courts, and Wisconsinites seem content with the tradition of ripping back the perforated paper tabs.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Everybody’s ripping on one another, taking the piss out, winding each other up.
—Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Congressional Democrats have been eagerly drawing that contrast in recent days, ripping Trump for going abroad amid a crisis at home.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Two years ago, Stone pulled ahead in a neck-and-neck race with Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), ultimately winning her second Oscar (after winning for Damien Chazelle’s La La Land in 2016) for her role in Lanthimos’s Poor Things and ripping her dress in the process.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
As a result of the accelerating AWS story and continued solid margin performance, Amazon shares are ripping about 13% higher in after-hours trading to about $252.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Check out video of Flav watching practice, posing with members of Team USA and ripping down the track in a bobsled and skeleton.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Adidas did the same thing with an AE1 commercial ripping a bunch of shoes, including LaMelo Ball’s shoe with Puma.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
For now, the issue is settled by the courts, and Wisconsinites seem content with the tradition of ripping back the perforated paper tabs.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Everybody’s ripping on one another, taking the piss out, winding each other up.
—Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Congressional Democrats have been eagerly drawing that contrast in recent days, ripping Trump for going abroad amid a crisis at home.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Two years ago, Stone pulled ahead in a neck-and-neck race with Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), ultimately winning her second Oscar (after winning for Damien Chazelle’s La La Land in 2016) for her role in Lanthimos’s Poor Things and ripping her dress in the process.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping
Verb
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Suddenly, there’s dozens of supervillains tearing the place (and each other) apart.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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Kraft was on pace to have an even stronger year in 2025, having already logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before tearing his ACL.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Studying the inner structure of a cactus usually involves slicing the column into pieces, then adding weights to different sections.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Let cool in dish on a wire rack for 10 minutes before slicing.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Cyclones’ usually elite defense ranks 11th in the Big 12 in rushing defense, 10th in passing defense and 14th in sacks.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
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Even so, the worries came rushing in.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Video of that incident shows a man identified by police as Calhoon lunging across the table, yanking it toward him and flipping it on its side while Turning Point promotional materials spilled onto the pavement.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Ciattarelli promises to lower energy costs immediately by yanking the state out of a regional greenhouse gas initiative, as well as any other environmental policy that voters are sick of.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 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, court records said.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The evangelical missionary has been working with Crisis Response International, flying in resources to Jamaica at his own expense, said Sean Malone, CRI founder.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
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Three years later, 4,300 miles from home, Neal was flying the second-largest plane in the world.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 5-11 200-pound standout has accumulated mind-boggling stats through nine games -- 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs while grabbing a team-leading 42 passes for 974 yards and 18 scores.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nikola Jokic put up 26 points on 12 of 15 shooting, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This month, however, the USDA is slashing the maximum benefit roughly in half, so households with even modest incomes will see much steeper reductions that those with none.—
JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the first half of the year, Tesla suffered from falling revenue as anti-Musk protesters picketed Tesla showrooms to denounce his role in slashing foreign aid and other government spending.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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