1
as in fracturing
to cause to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
She was out for the rest of the season after she ruptured a tendon.
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2
as in exploding
to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
The pipeline ruptured, leaking thousands of gallons of oil. The fault could rupture during the next major earthquake. High blood pressure caused the blood vessels to rupture.
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Recent Examples of rupturing
Skiing in a brace just nine days after rupturing the ACL in her left knee, Vonn did not finish the final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are highly adjusted to surviving cold temperatures by producing a type of natural antifreeze to prevent their cells from rupturing, according to Moleai.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
This keeps the plastic wrap from swelling or even rupturing.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
The infection had progressed to the point of rupturing her eardrum, causing fever and pain intense enough to keep her from sleeping.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
This is to help prevent the tank from rupturing or blowing off a valve.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
The implications of his remarks were enormous, potentially rupturing an alliance that has held firm since the dawn of the Cold War and seemed among the globe’s most unshakable pacts.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Greenlaw, of course, played only one half of football after rupturing his Achilles running onto the field in Super Bowl LIII in Las Vegas.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
After rupturing his achilles, Olivier signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Raptors.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are highly adjusted to surviving cold temperatures by producing a type of natural antifreeze to prevent their cells from rupturing, according to Moleai.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
This keeps the plastic wrap from swelling or even rupturing.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
The infection had progressed to the point of rupturing her eardrum, causing fever and pain intense enough to keep her from sleeping.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
This is to help prevent the tank from rupturing or blowing off a valve.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
The implications of his remarks were enormous, potentially rupturing an alliance that has held firm since the dawn of the Cold War and seemed among the globe’s most unshakable pacts.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Greenlaw, of course, played only one half of football after rupturing his Achilles running onto the field in Super Bowl LIII in Las Vegas.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
After rupturing his achilles, Olivier signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Raptors.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rupturing
Verb
-
The midfielder was sent for surgery after fracturing his teeth and jaw in a defeat to Parma on Sunday.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
In 2024, an activist allegedly attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On February 24, the first night of public access, the system created and distributed some 800,000 alerts, sending out notifications for swooping asteroids, exploding stars, flaring supermassive black holes and other transient celestial events.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The incidents illustrate how prediction markets—which let people bet on real world events from sports and elections to celebrity behavior, and which are exploding in popularity—are also tempting some individuals to make a quick buck from insider information.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These include squatting, hinging, stepping, pushing, pulling and stabilizing your core — the mechanics behind getting up from a chair, picking something up off the floor, opening and closing doors, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance to avoid falls.—
Dana Santas Feb 28,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Howe switched around his personnel in search of a revival, moving Anthony Gordon from centre-forward to left-wing, Nick Woltemade from No 8 to striker, and pulling Joelinton back into midfield.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Marcus Phillips spearheads a spot-on quintet of classmates, each bursting with self-conscious awkwardness and a desire to be seen and understood.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In both cases the market was rattled by concerns that an AI bubble was on the verge of bursting.—
Parmy Olson,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, breaking news and the death penalty for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the filing points to news articles, other lawsuits and the Aid Access website as evidence that the organization is breaking Texas law.—
Emily Brindley
Health Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As reports trickled out about the death, eyewitnesses in Tehran told The Associated Press that some residents were rejoicing, blowing whistles and letting out ululations.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once upon a time, she and Heughan’s steamy, kilt-ripping scenes were the talk of the town—and sparked incessant, baseless speculation about the nature of their off-screen relationship.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
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That will keep your nails looking neat and clean without ripping away the protective barrier.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Use sharp, clean pruners to cut off stems rather than twisting or tearing them off.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
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After tearing his bicep and enduring numerous fits of vomiting, Jim was physically done — and soon done from the game as well.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rupturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rupturing. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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