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 Just as the imperatives of war led to the development of the SNA in the 1940s, the new exigencies of a world riven by trade wars, geopolitical instability, and supply shocks require a modern statistical framework. Diane Coyle, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025 Trust in institutions is at a historic low; faith communities themselves are riven by conflict. Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025 The Trump administration is said to be riven by an internal debate over how the United States should approach the post-Assad regime in Syria. Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 Apr. 2025 Those subsequent parts demonstrated her box-office appeal as well as her ability to grippingly portray characters riven by trauma. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rive
Verb
  • The Justice Department has filed similar prosecutions in recent years, as well as created an initiative aimed at disrupting the threat.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • As discussed ad nauseum Iran could disrupt shipping in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, but only partly and only for a brief period.
    Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, boats all along the southwest shore were being swamped or ripped from their moorings and piling up on rocks or beaches, often crashing into other vessels.
    George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025
  • And, Roman says, a vital support system was ripped away: public services.
    Meg Anderson, NPR, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • In one harrowing scene when Metropolis is in danger, reporters for the Daily Planet newspaper – packed into a moving vehicle, no less – work to break a major exclusive story on deadline and there's Jimmy (Skyler Gisondo), typing like the Flash on his laptop.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2025
  • While Clark has been integral in the rise of the WNBA’s popularity since breaking rookie and league records last season with the Fever, there have been many contentious moments over that span of games with opponents.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Governor Phil Murphy responded Thursday night to a deadly line of severe thunderstorms that tore through Central New Jersey, killing three people and leaving tens of thousands without power.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
  • The bodies of the doctor, his wife, daughter and son-in-law, arrived at Shifa Hospital torn into pieces, according to Issam Nabhan, head of the nursing department at the Indonesian Hospital.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Fast forward to July and Cabrera is likely out for the year after fracturing his ankle and posting numbers below league average.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
  • However, leaders with corporate psychopathic tendencies may drive distrust and fracture the organization.
    Shawn Cole, Forbes.com, 27 June 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
  • The Seagull The season’s starriest show is Chekhov’s rending play about art, love and loss in a new version from Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier, with Ostermeier directing.
    Matt Wolf, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The hispanic and Latino demography of South Florida means support is fragmented.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Bookings are often fragmented across cities, suppliers and regions.
    Amiad Solomon, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rive. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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