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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ripping off
Mark Ruffalo stars as veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis, who’s assigned to lead a task force to catch a gang of low-level crooks who’ve been putting on Halloween masks and ripping off local drug dealers, in a scheme reminiscent of Apple TV+’s recent Dope Thief.
—
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
Because Paterno had corrected course after four losing seasons in five years, ripping off 51 victories from 2005 to ‘09, there wasn’t much urgency to invest and improve.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Johnson had a nine-yard TD run, one week after ripping off a 39-yard scoring run against the Jets.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Hurtado was out for a jog when the dogs bit her arms and legs, ripping off her flesh and leaving large cuts, deputies said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The second-round pick out of Ohio State was the star of Friday’s preseason opener, ripping off a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown to open the game.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
Because Paterno had corrected course after four losing seasons in five years, ripping off 51 victories from 2005 to ‘09, there wasn’t much urgency to invest and improve.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Johnson had a nine-yard TD run, one week after ripping off a 39-yard scoring run against the Jets.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Hurtado was out for a jog when the dogs bit her arms and legs, ripping off her flesh and leaving large cuts, deputies said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The second-round pick out of Ohio State was the star of Friday’s preseason opener, ripping off a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown to open the game.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
-
Caroline conveniently grows a conscience right around the time when the couple starts robbing banks in earnest.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Drummond has served prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The core of the game is stealing characters from other gamers.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
-
From her start as a Fly Girl on the sketch comedy program In Living Color in the early ’90s to stealing scenes in Selena and The Wedding Planner, then topping charts with her debut album On the 6.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Park Min-young played a timid wife seeking revenge on her cheating man in Marry My Husband.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The basic logic of Article XIII is to promote fair play among the 30 teams and prevent teams from cheating.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The brief clip shows 8-year-old Basil perched confidently in front of a sprinkler on a lush patch of grass, energetically swiping at jets of water spraying into the air.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Think of it like swiping on Hinge and everyone being too far away to be worth the drive to meet up.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Row the dumbbell up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While startups occasionally push boundaries with optimization techniques—squeezing more efficiency out of existing silicon—barriers to entry are overwhelmingly high.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When two people pop a small confetti cannon into the air, Speed launches himself back with a cry, knocking over the set and barely missing the cake that has his face on it.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Many cat owners have seen their cat sleeping in a sunny patch on the bed, or even knocking over plants and whatever else is in the way to get an ideal window-napping position.—
Meghan Holmes,
Treehugger,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
29 Aug. 2025
-
It’s haltingly played, like a child plucking out the notes, to emphasize John’s deep connection to his daughter.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Lapham also talked about the high of winning the AFC Championship in 1981, followed by the stinging loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl 16.—
Beryl Love,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share