1
as in tears
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in slits
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rushes
to proceed or move quickly
the car went ripping down the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grabs
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
rip a sheet off the pad of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perverts
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rips
Ben Guttmann, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
It’s generally accepted that John rips Carolyn’s engagement ring off her finger in the park, and returns it when sitting on the curb.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
Costarring Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, the film rips open the emotional wounds that are often left by one's parents.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … LATE-NIGHT HOAX — FCC chair rips media for promoting claim CBS blocked Colbert-Talarico interview.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Seguin rips Burleson, remains fourth in 8-5A Zoderick Green paced Arlington Seguin with 17 points as the Cougars held on to fourth place in District 8-5A with a 69-42 win over Burleson.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s one unloved hotel and little else to see from Highway 31, the road that rips through town and runs far, far north, all the way to Lake Michigan.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Rodgers rips a strike behind that defender and in front of the corner.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The technology is also moving into textiles and wearables, where self-repairing fabrics can mend small rips or abrasions, extending product life and reducing waste.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Silky and quiet, the 10-denier nylon (100 percent recycled) proved durable enough to resist snags or rips over two years of heavy use in Colorado’s high peaks.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
After washing and drying the sheet set several times, there were no signs of loose seams, pilling rips, holes, or color fading.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2026
Care and Repair Before cleaning or storing, fix rips and tears in winter coats, including linings.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Aim for classic shades of blue denim without rips or embellishments.
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025
Check for stains, fading, rips, odors, and mold before bagging up these items.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
Wang's collaborative creation with other Santa Fe artists, visitors will stumble upon an unsuspecting Victorian home that becomes a site of wonder when a forceful blip rips through the metaphysics of time and space.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
Spanning 180 acres between four of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods, Sunnyside Yard is a steel and asphalt scar that rips across Western Queens — serving those passing through, not those that call this borough home.
—Ben Guttmann, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
It’s generally accepted that John rips Carolyn’s engagement ring off her finger in the park, and returns it when sitting on the curb.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
Costarring Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, the film rips open the emotional wounds that are often left by one's parents.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … LATE-NIGHT HOAX — FCC chair rips media for promoting claim CBS blocked Colbert-Talarico interview.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Seguin rips Burleson, remains fourth in 8-5A Zoderick Green paced Arlington Seguin with 17 points as the Cougars held on to fourth place in District 8-5A with a 69-42 win over Burleson.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s one unloved hotel and little else to see from Highway 31, the road that rips through town and runs far, far north, all the way to Lake Michigan.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Rodgers rips a strike behind that defender and in front of the corner.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Dave Grohl plays drums, and absolutely rips.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The technology is also moving into textiles and wearables, where self-repairing fabrics can mend small rips or abrasions, extending product life and reducing waste.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Silky and quiet, the 10-denier nylon (100 percent recycled) proved durable enough to resist snags or rips over two years of heavy use in Colorado’s high peaks.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
After washing and drying the sheet set several times, there were no signs of loose seams, pilling rips, holes, or color fading.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2026
Care and Repair Before cleaning or storing, fix rips and tears in winter coats, including linings.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Aim for classic shades of blue denim without rips or embellishments.
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025
Check for stains, fading, rips, odors, and mold before bagging up these items.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
Wang's collaborative creation with other Santa Fe artists, visitors will stumble upon an unsuspecting Victorian home that becomes a site of wonder when a forceful blip rips through the metaphysics of time and space.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rips
Verb
-
If the oyster tears slightly, don’t panic; flavor matters much more than perfection.—
Rai Mincey,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
His scientist creator, Victor Frankenstein, reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment tears the unfinished mate limb from limb as the creature watches on in horror.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another friend rushes to join the hug.—
Mica Rosenberg,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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And out rushes a blazingly cathartic torrent of honesty and horror.—
Sibani Ram,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chibale grabs a chemistry book off the shelf in his office and riffles through a parade of molecules — each one like an old friend.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Afterward the man with the shotgun points it inside the truck’s cabin and the passenger grabs its barrel, the video shows.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pour the soup mixture over the vegetables and continue to cook until the chicken easily shreds with a fork.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
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This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That lawsuit argues that the way in which the map slices through Kansas City violates the state Constitution.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Toast 2–4 slices bread of choice (such as country-style sourdough or multigrain).—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The way Radcliffe scurries out of his chair and into the green room to meet Liu illustrates her visceral impact.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Bridgerton fans can spot the Old Royal Naval College mostly throughout season 2, like when a paperboy scurries across the grounds to deliver the latest gossip from Lady Whistledown in the first episode.—
Kayla Keegan,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This budget cut slashes the funds allocated to Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
23 Mar. 2026
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State Department slashes fee to renounce US citizenship For anyone considering a breakup with America, the fee to give up US citizenship just dropped by about 80%.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rips. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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