1
as in robbing
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stealing
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 cheating
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
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Recent Examples of ripping off
Japan stays perfect Team Japan wrapped up pool play undefeated early Tuesday morning, ripping off nine runs in the bottom of the eighth to beat Czechia 9-0.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
After her friend left, Sprunk allegedly tried ripping off the woman's clothes.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Tougher still was standing in the fairway on the par-5 18th, the cold Pacific air ripping off the ocean to his left, and having to wait some 20 minutes as Jacob Bridgeman had to figure out how to play off the beach only for his shot to go into the ocean.
—ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026
Federal officials unveiled a slew of charges Tuesday against two Coloradans accused of ripping off a program that provides free rides to Medicaid patients, the first criminal charges filed in response to a sprawling fraud bonanza identified by state officials more than two years ago.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
After retaining his parallel giant slalom crown in Livigno on Sunday, the 40-year-old celebrated by ripping off his top, baring his chest to the frenzied crowd, before flexing his muscles and dropping facedown on the snow.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Companies making machine learning and generative software aren’t just metaphorically ripping off books.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
TrumpRx does make a compelling case that the president has mounted an extraordinary effort to stop pharmaceutical companies from ripping off Americans.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The Slovenian superstar won Rookie of the Year before ripping off five straight First Team All-NBA selections.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
After her friend left, Sprunk allegedly tried ripping off the woman's clothes.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Tougher still was standing in the fairway on the par-5 18th, the cold Pacific air ripping off the ocean to his left, and having to wait some 20 minutes as Jacob Bridgeman had to figure out how to play off the beach only for his shot to go into the ocean.
—ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026
Federal officials unveiled a slew of charges Tuesday against two Coloradans accused of ripping off a program that provides free rides to Medicaid patients, the first criminal charges filed in response to a sprawling fraud bonanza identified by state officials more than two years ago.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
After retaining his parallel giant slalom crown in Livigno on Sunday, the 40-year-old celebrated by ripping off his top, baring his chest to the frenzied crowd, before flexing his muscles and dropping facedown on the snow.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Companies making machine learning and generative software aren’t just metaphorically ripping off books.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
TrumpRx does make a compelling case that the president has mounted an extraordinary effort to stop pharmaceutical companies from ripping off Americans.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The Slovenian superstar won Rookie of the Year before ripping off five straight First Team All-NBA selections.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
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The disease affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, robbing a person of their ability to walk, breathe and often speak.—
Juana Summers,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Advocates say that level of disenrollment will sharply diminish the state’s health care system as a whole, by robbing hospitals and clinics of revenue.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church based in El Cajon is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the church and backfilling the hole in the books with money intended to be used for poor people, a prosecutor told an East County judge Monday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
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The reverend in charge of the largest cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball trading cards.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Billionaire Ronald Burkle is suing political power-broker Darius Anderson, accusing his former protégé and friend of cheating him out of millions of dollars.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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An Arsenal throw-in on their right-hand side, in the 14th minute, prompts chants of ‘Same old Arsenal, always cheating’ as the clock ticks away.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other reviews say the smell is powdery and clean, which is tolerable for swiping it on daily.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
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But apps, as many have discovered, can be quite frustrating in practice, with all the tapping and swiping through multiple screens.—
Diana Budds,
Architectural Digest,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lady beetles emerging in spring actually entered your home in the fall, squeezing through small cracks to overwinter inside walls, attics, and other sheltered spaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Equipped with a deep high-rise waistband featuring internal power mesh, Icebreaker has engineered these leggings to provide a bit of extra compression without over-squeezing.—
Harry Spampinato,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bess finally blurted out, gesticulating and knocking over her glass of wine just as Sam opened a new bottle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
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Coach Travis Steele screamed at the officials at halftime, knocking over a speaker on his way off the court and picking up a technical foul.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Archive footage viewed on old VHS tapes and Super-8 film reveals that Cook was a talented and charismatic musician, plucking away at his Gibson while singing blues standards or original material.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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Broten remembers Pavelich plucking his guitar and singing Neil Young songs on bus rides.—
Stephen Whyno,
Twin Cities,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, even with that stinging loss, Musero’s attorney is riding the wave generated by the lists coming out.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a setback when his conservatives lost a regional election to the Greens, a stinging blow for the unpopular German leader compounded by a jump in support for the far right.—
Michael Nienaber,
Bloomberg,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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