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
Mix-Ins for Texture These tasty mix-ins might make the frosting too thick and chunky to spread without tearing or ripping the cake, so beat the frosting with a mixer until light and fluffy, and then fold in the additions with a spatula.
—
Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
In chaotic markets — when silver is ripping higher or dropping fast — dealers may pause buying, lower offers or limit volumes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
There’s no better way to gain attention than ripping on the most popular artist around.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The Blue Jackets played Tuesday’s game without winger Kirill Marchenko, who fell victim to the flu-like bug that’s been ripping through the Columbus dressing room.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But, because the internet loves to dunk on people, Sparks’ comment section was flooded with X users ripping into her for reaching out so publicly.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
On Monday, prosecutors charged her with a felony count of child abuse for allegedly ripping out the teenager’s hair, and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for allegedly neglecting the 3-year-old’s safety.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
When the Bulls fired Thibodeau in 2015 with two years and around $9 million left on his contract, Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf felt the need to put out a statement ripping his communication skills.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Scammers make their living by ripping people off, so the government agency suggests doing a little sleuthing before going too far or moving too fast.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
In chaotic markets — when silver is ripping higher or dropping fast — dealers may pause buying, lower offers or limit volumes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
There’s no better way to gain attention than ripping on the most popular artist around.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The Blue Jackets played Tuesday’s game without winger Kirill Marchenko, who fell victim to the flu-like bug that’s been ripping through the Columbus dressing room.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But, because the internet loves to dunk on people, Sparks’ comment section was flooded with X users ripping into her for reaching out so publicly.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
On Monday, prosecutors charged her with a felony count of child abuse for allegedly ripping out the teenager’s hair, and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for allegedly neglecting the 3-year-old’s safety.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
When the Bulls fired Thibodeau in 2015 with two years and around $9 million left on his contract, Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf felt the need to put out a statement ripping his communication skills.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Scammers make their living by ripping people off, so the government agency suggests doing a little sleuthing before going too far or moving too fast.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping
Verb
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Three weeks after tearing her ACL, Italian downhiller Sofia Goggia won a World Cup race in 2022.—
Outside,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
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What if the Celtics won a ring without Jayson Tatum, who could still come back this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs?—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.—
Evan Howell,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
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Still a beast to wrangle but one that’s laser-focused on slicing through corners like its Cadillac Racing siblings.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He was seated in the bow, and the momentum of the raft pushed him into the alders, where a large branch swept him out of his seat and into the rushing water.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026
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For many of the workers who have spent the past several days rushing home, secure jobs and fair wages are clearly high on their wish list from the changing government.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hotel video footage showed the pair forcing entry into the hotel by yanking on a lobby door and breaking the lock.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
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The yellow bucket of a heavy construction excavator crashed down onto the roof of the vacant home at Parade Park, yanking it into a heap of split plaster and lumber.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
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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Wasserman has previously admitted to flying with Epstein on the financier’s private plane on a trip to Africa with Maxwell and former President Clinton.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Winter Olympic athletes, particularly those who compete in events that involve flying down a mountain or icy track at breakneck speeds, are not exactly known for self-preservation instincts.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not every retailer is deploying AI in headline-grabbing ways, but many are intentionally building the foundations that make the technology viable.—
Peter Sadera,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
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Another handwashing no-no is touching the phone, then grabbing clean tongs without washing hands.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some proponents argue that if those interest rates were capped, banks could simply absorb those losses by accepting lower profits or slashing their marketing budgets.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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The company has largely outmuscled global behemoth Starbucks in China by slashing prices and offering a menu featuring a huge variety of options to cater to local tastes.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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