1
as in disrupting
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 tearing
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riving
Verb
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Researchers have identified hormone-disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals in some consumer products and continue to investigate combinations of chemicals that may warrant closer testing.
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Its tendency to rapidly reproduce, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces, can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems.
Verb
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Rats, cockroaches and weasels run amok, tearing through limp tent sheets and biting children and newborn babies in their sleep.
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That conversation completely shifted Taylor’s perspective, inspiring her to see the home's original features as something worth building around, instead of tearing out.
Verb
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The planet’s oceans are at unprecedented temperatures for this time of year, breaking the all-time June record, according to new data, with alarming implications for global weather and marine life.
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Verb
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His second goal was even more impressive, ripping through the legs of midfielder Danilo Santos before finding the net.
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The New York Times dropped a 5,000 word story absolutely ripping its former employee.
Verb
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Now that cities and suburbs are expanding, that natural process is fracturing, making reproduction more challenging.
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Their best starting pitcher this season, Clay Holmes, isn’t back yet after fracturing his fibula in May.
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Cite this Entry
“Riving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riving. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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