rive

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as in to rip
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the bitter disappointment threatened to rive my heart in two

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rive different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rive are cleave, rend, rip, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can cleave take the place of rive?

The words cleave and rive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When would rend be a good substitute for rive?

The words rend and rive can be used in similar contexts, but rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Where would rip be a reasonable alternative to rive?

While the synonyms rip and rive are close in meaning, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is it sensible to use split instead of rive?

The meanings of split and rive largely overlap; however, split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

When might tear be a better fit than rive?

In some situations, the words tear and rive are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

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 rive The House’s action was riven with partisanship. Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 The office has been riven by leadership tumult over the last year. Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2025 Both parties were riven by arguments over slavery, prompting some discontented members to establish an alternative. Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 Students often self-segregated, and the school’s academic sheen was riven by racial division. Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rive
Verb
  • On play one, Moore reads the tight end throwback pass and disrupts the catch (or else the tight end might still be running).
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • On one hand, companies like Upwork and Fiverr have suffered as generative AI has disrupted simple contract jobs like copyediting and translation.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Glenn ripped himself for allowing his team to come undone after Hall’s fumble.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The therapy works by breaking a cycle.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Isiah Pacheco had his longest carry this season — and broke two tackles to do it.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season, isn't close to returning, and Pearsall and Jennings have what appear to be more minor ailments.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Driven by Jonny Greenwood’s relentless score, the movie summons not only the images but the psycho-spiritual sensations of a country tearing itself apart.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sea ice is fracturing and melting.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Filosa, a native Italian with more than two decades of experience in the Stellantis family of automakers, replaced former Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares, whose rocky tenure fractured relationships with the UAW and dealers alike.
    Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dallas keeps bringing up last year’s six-game win over Colorado in an apparent effort to buck up themselves and their despondent fans, who are rending their garments over a meaningless seven-game losing streak to end the season.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • In lesser hands, this might be one of those theatrical pieces that offers a nice excuse for actors to rend garments and gnash teeth onscreen — the sort of cinéma du Off-Broadway favored by microbudget indie directors and arthouse die-hards.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Divided by borders, and further fragmented by custom and belief into tribelets of ideology, each suspicious and distrustful of the other.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
  • As human civilization developed in Egypt and Rome and India, lion and tiger populations were fragmented, decimated.
    Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rive. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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