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
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Recent Examples of ripping off
There’s little risk of Amodei pulling a Zaslav and ripping off Carter’s wardrobe.
—
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
There were two more touchdown drives on Saturday with transfer running back Landon Walker ripping off a 40-yard touchdown while Pitchford added another touchdown run in the red zone.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
Then the Red Sox offense came back to life, ripping off three straight hits and scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Story RBI single and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Durbin, which was initially ruled an inning-ending double play before being overturned after replay review.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 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
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
There were two more touchdown drives on Saturday with transfer running back Landon Walker ripping off a 40-yard touchdown while Pitchford added another touchdown run in the red zone.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
Then the Red Sox offense came back to life, ripping off three straight hits and scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Story RBI single and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Durbin, which was initially ruled an inning-ending double play before being overturned after replay review.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
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Two men charged with stealing about $667,000 of Louis Vuitton merchandise from the back of delivery trucks — robbing the drivers at gunpoint — pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday, prosecutors said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Benge made another one of those catches in center field Monday, helping out right-hander Austin Warren by robbing Tyler Freeman of extra bases.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Officials say the ring targeted vulnerable residents by forging documents, stealing personal information about the real owners and arranging the sales of the properties.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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There's a long way to go before the season gets here and stealing the spotlight on Thursday night during the draft doesn’t guarantee anything.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fred, their oldest surviving child, was suspended from Princeton for cheating, then caught embezzling from his Seattle employer to feed, Church suspected, a gambling habit.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Court documents state the Matthews were there to get the children after a fight between Ashley and Pouncey over cheating.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Many younger adults describe the swiping experience as passive, repetitive and emotionally draining — a lot of effort with very little payoff in real chemistry or meaningful matches.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Imagine swiping a card at a corner station, unlocking a bicycle, riding to the store or your office or the park or the beach and locking the bike at another station.—
Harry Bubbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gas prices, housing costs and groceries are squeezing people who are working hard yet still falling behind.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Prices for everything are higher, squeezing already tight budgets to the breaking point, with no end in sight.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The gusts progressively grew stronger, knocking over planters and forcing food vendors to close up shop early, until the festival itself was paused and performers were ushered offstage.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
26 Apr. 2026
-
People ducked under tables and chairs, knocking over table settings.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For some, working with soil evokes nostalgia for childhood summers, smelling thorny roses in bloom and plucking ripe tomatoes off the vine.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
20 Apr. 2026
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Brawley hires football coach After a months-long search, Brawley High School has hired a football coach, plucking Rick Stewart away from Calipatria.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Captain Ethan Ampadu is one of the survivors of that stinging 2024 play-off final defeat.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Trump was the butt of several stinging jokes made by both President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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