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
Even when Osborne dips into country or wraps with a hint of reggae, its songs rip – if only in the sense of ripping off a Band-Aid.
—
Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, a Miami federal judge ordered Graham’s immediate surrender to the Bureau of Prisons after sentencing him to seven years for ripping off millions from his mother.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Is Emmy award winning show The Pitt ripping off ER?
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The pre-waxed strips latch onto hairs with the strength of a baby’s fist, yanking them out right at the roots with about as much discomfort as ripping off a (very sticky) Band-Aid.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
To say nothing of ripping off the title of one of the better songs in the Pearl Jam discography.
—Rob Lancit, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox ambushed the New York Yankees in Sunday night’s series finale, ripping off six runs in the first inning en route to a 6-4 win.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, a Miami federal judge ordered Graham’s immediate surrender to the Bureau of Prisons after sentencing him to seven years for ripping off millions from his mother.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Is Emmy award winning show The Pitt ripping off ER?
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The pre-waxed strips latch onto hairs with the strength of a baby’s fist, yanking them out right at the roots with about as much discomfort as ripping off a (very sticky) Band-Aid.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
To say nothing of ripping off the title of one of the better songs in the Pearl Jam discography.
—Rob Lancit, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox ambushed the New York Yankees in Sunday night’s series finale, ripping off six runs in the first inning en route to a 6-4 win.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
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Three years before the famed film was released, Wojtowicz and a friend held up a Brooklyn bank in a 14-hour hostage ordeal, allegedly robbing the bank to help pay for his transgender partner’s gender-affirming surgery.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
By Saturday morning, after robbing the second in Belmont, he was handcuffed.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What he’s actually done is fake his death to create a template for a new life by stealing $90 million from a client of his crooked law firm.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
One man was arrested and accused of stealing a golf cart.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This isn’t the first time that the couple was surrounded by cheating rumors.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
30 Sep. 2025
-
She and Jon, who married in 1999, divorced in 2009, the same year as the cheating rumors.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the viral video shared on social media, Nina Miller, wearing Giants gear, is seen swiping the headband from the boy.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
After dropping them off in a narrow street, Rojas started swiping through the app for a new passenger.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But, to do you any good, squeezing the veins must propel the blood in the right direction, toward the heart.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The earbuds are controlled by squeezing the stem.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 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
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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,
6 Oct. 2025
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Simply plucking young stars from viewers’ social-media feeds won’t radically alter or refresh SNL.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Andreas Helmersen hit the bar while Patrick Berg’s stinging effort was saved by Guglielmo Vicario.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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These pretty pink jellyfish are carnivorous and have stinging tentacles that can reach up to 70 feet long.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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