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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riven
But the pressures on Israel to rein in its survival instincts at a time when it is riven with deep political, religious, and maybe existential divisions are having little obvious traction.
—
Nic Robertson, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
But even if Lebanon remains riven by sectarian divisions and vulnerable to foreign interlopers, the risks and rewards of Hezbollah’s setback — no matter how temporary — present a tantalizing opportunity for a political revival and perhaps real national unity.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
The Amos family has been riven by dissension for at least a year, with Shannon having accused her brother of failing to provide adequate health care for their elderly father, who died at 84.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024
Today, the Taliban is gaining ground, the Afghan army is suffering unsustainable losses, and the government in Kabul is corrupt and riven by ethnic divisions.
—Aaron B. O'Connell, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017
See All Example Sentences for riven
Nic Robertson, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
But even if Lebanon remains riven by sectarian divisions and vulnerable to foreign interlopers, the risks and rewards of Hezbollah’s setback — no matter how temporary — present a tantalizing opportunity for a political revival and perhaps real national unity.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
The Amos family has been riven by dissension for at least a year, with Shannon having accused her brother of failing to provide adequate health care for their elderly father, who died at 84.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024
Today, the Taliban is gaining ground, the Afghan army is suffering unsustainable losses, and the government in Kabul is corrupt and riven by ethnic divisions.
—Aaron B. O'Connell, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017
See All Example Sentences for riven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riven
Verb
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After a season disrupted by injuries and fewer starts, the writing was on the wall.—
Julia Ranney,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On Sunday, an MRI confirmed Wagner had torn an ACL and will miss the rest of the season.—
Josh Robbins,
The Athletic,
24 Dec. 2024
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This could put accreditors and colleges in potentially challenging positions, torn between their commitment to academic independence and their survival.—
Meg Little Reilly,
Forbes,
10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the Hawks’ present-day problems ripped them right back into the here and now.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2025
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Milton’s hurricane-force winds ripped trees from already soggy soils, but its historic rain also flooded neighborhoods that had never experienced waters so high.—
Jack Prator,
Orlando Sentinel,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At first it was sold at Macy’s department store in large sheets broken into smaller pieces, then in the 1940s, the company sold its own candy bar size in stores.—
John Mariani,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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If the piece was indeed destroyed, Warner may have broken the law.—
Andrew Travers,
The Hollywood Reporter,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The experts split into teams representing the U.S. and China, and each side was armed with the weapons that its country is thought to possess.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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If their parents died, the sisters would split their inheritance.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riven. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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