variants
also rived
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
road pavement that had been riven by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in torn
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riven
Advertisement Venezuela is a country of 28 million people, riven by armed militias, criminal organizations, and Chavista loyalists who haven’t simply vanished because Maduro was helicoptered to New York.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The Venezuelan opposition has always been riven with divisions.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Trump ends the year weak and unpopular, his coalition dispirited and riven by infighting.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The country of about 230 million people, by far the most populous in Africa, is split roughly evenly between Muslim and Christian populations and has been riven by violence for decades.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riven
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The Venezuelan opposition has always been riven with divisions.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Trump ends the year weak and unpopular, his coalition dispirited and riven by infighting.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The country of about 230 million people, by far the most populous in Africa, is split roughly evenly between Muslim and Christian populations and has been riven by violence for decades.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riven
Verb
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The Middle East crisis has severely disrupted oil exports through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) and represents a key choke point for fertilizer trade.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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Energy prices are volatile as the Iran conflict has disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz.—
Derek Chollet,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The story follows a young man torn between two women — one virtuous and one not so virtuous, whose powerful attraction takes hold of him.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
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But backers have yet to attract a factory, leaving a township torn by distrust and lawmakers demanding answers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ensign is hoisted, the pennant is broken, the orders have been read, the first watch set.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Between March 15 and March 26, more than 100 monthly records were broken or tied, and 700 daily records were broken or tied across the country, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the bottom of the second, Sierra Canyon catcher Aiden Jahng ripped a double into the left-center field gap on an 0-2 count to put the Trailblazers up 2-0.—
Tony Gleason,
Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Even the series most absurd premise — a competition in which immigrants compete for citizenship — feels ripped from the headlines.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The media landscape has fractured — back then newspapers set the political agenda, fewer than half of voters were online and streaming was something mostly done by water.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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On March 7, Foster fractured his foot in a game against rival North Carolina.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riven. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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