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
Instead of ripping off his shirt, or wildly gesticulating, McTominay ran to the edge of the pitch with his hands facing down and his lips pursed.
—
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Videos shared on social media showed some fans clashing with police officers, and other videos captured apparent Knicks fans attacking San Antonio fans on the streets, ripping off their Spurs jerseys.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Trump's displeasure eventually culminated in him ripping off his lapel mic and storming off the set.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
The anticipation of ripping off hard wax didn’t magically disappear, and for my first few waxes post-birth, my skin felt more sensitive than usual.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
No more ripping off the American Taxpayer.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
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
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Videos shared on social media showed some fans clashing with police officers, and other videos captured apparent Knicks fans attacking San Antonio fans on the streets, ripping off their Spurs jerseys.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Trump's displeasure eventually culminated in him ripping off his lapel mic and storming off the set.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
The anticipation of ripping off hard wax didn’t magically disappear, and for my first few waxes post-birth, my skin felt more sensitive than usual.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
No more ripping off the American Taxpayer.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
-
Philadelphia Police are looking for three suspects accused of trying to blow up an ATM before robbing a convenience store in the city's Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood Sunday night.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
By Bay City News A Northern California man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for robbing three banks and carjacking a rideshare driver during a crime spree that spanned late 2024 and early 2025, prosecutors announced Friday.—
Bay City News,
Mercury News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Some also broke into a tractor trailer, stealing items inside.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
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Years before winning a Tony and becoming one of comedy’s most singular stars, Cole Escola was stealing scenes on Difficult People.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The reunion comes 15 years after the couple divorced amid rumors of a cheating scandal.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
Here, Ruhian diversifies his skill set, killing people at a distance with a bow and arrow, which feels like cheating.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Beteille said his group was waved through a metal detector before another security employee pushed them forward, knocking over part of it.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
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Before 2014, Major League Baseball runners trying to score often tried knocking over a catcher who was blocking the plate.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
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But there’s something about having to press actual buttons rather than tapping and swiping on a touchscreen.—
Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Her advances are met with the dance equivalent of swiping left.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Lightweight enough to toss into a carry-on, these slippers still have a durable sole, meaning quick trips to the airplane bathroom or hotel hallway don’t require squeezing back into shoes.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
Americans are reeling from a cost-of-living crisis that’s squeezing even the biggest earners in the country.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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As with the studio version, the track began with Lifeson plucking out a delicate intro on a nylon-string guitar before blasting into monster electric riffs.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
-
Vogue’s beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden became a devotee after plucking it from the beauty closet and using it religiously.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Ants, mosquitoes, ticks, termites, stinging insects, and house flies are the most common and costly summer pests.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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