TEAR Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'tear' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of tear are cleave , rend , rip , rive , and split . While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. // tear up the letter

Q: When could 'cleave' be used to replace 'tear'?

In some situations, the words cleave and tear are roughly equivalent. However, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow. // a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

Q: When can 'rend' be used instead of 'tear'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tear , rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering. // an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Q: In what contexts can 'rip' take the place of 'tear'?

The meanings of rip and tear largely overlap; however, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint. // ripped the shirt on a nail

Q: When is 'rive' a more appropriate choice than 'tear'?

The words rive and tear can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use. // a political party riven by conflict

Q: When would 'split' be a good substitute for 'tear'?

The words split and tear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

tear 1 of 2

noun

ˈter

Definition of tear

as in slit

a long deep cut repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

tear

2 of 2

verb

ˈter

as in to rip

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattach

as in to speed

to proceed or move quickly she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tear different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of tear are cleave, rend, rip, rive, and split. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

When could cleave be used to replace tear?

In some situations, the words cleave and tear are roughly equivalent. However, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of tear?

While in some cases nearly identical to tear, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

In what contexts can rip take the place of tear?

The meanings of rip and tear largely overlap; however, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is rive a more appropriate choice than tear?

The words rive and tear can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

When would split be a good substitute for tear?

The words split and tear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

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 tear

Noun

When told her testimony was done, Tina burst into tears in front of the jury and buried her face in a tissue. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026 At medical meetings, neurologists had tears in their eyes watching videos of children who got the drug and were not only still alive but could walk. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

Prosecutors said the vehicle flipped 180 degrees, tearing the entire right side and most of the roof off. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 April Ameling and her business partner scrambled to hold down their vendor tents and protect their merchandise as punishing winds and heavy rain tore through downtown Independence and the SantaCaliGon Days Festival Sunday evening. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear

Noun

The campaign showcases Diesel’s creased denim treated with resin, 3-D denim, trompe l’oeil cable knit denim and the new regular-fit D-Heel jean, which has hidden vertical slits near the ankle, perfect for slipping through a stiletto heel.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
The actress went strapless in a corseted leopard print Givenchy dress complete with a giant bow and a sultry thigh-high slit.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slit

Verb

Wildfires are ripping across parts of Indonesia, destroying precious peatland and smothering the country in a toxic smoke so thick, people are struggling to breathe.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
This version is made by ripping open a single-serving bag of chips — say, Doritos — then piling in meats, cheeses, veggies, sour cream, salsa and other ingredients.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of rip

Verb

Sandra Ogbebor hunches over her softly humming refrigerator and scours through bottles before finally yanking out an orange juice.

— Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026
In one clip, a pair of people sit in a small box attached to a wire as they're yanked onto a platform across a river in Nuwakot, Nepal.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of yank

Verb

Speaking at a joint news conference, Fujimori said Peru's participation in the coalition would speed intelligence-sharing and bolster joint action against criminal groups operating across borders.

— Marco Aquino, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
AIs are already being used to answer decades-long unsolved complex mathematical problems, and have assisted scientists in speeding up scientific discovery and even designing new viruses.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of speed

Noun

Based in Sacramento, Sugar Coated is a scratch bakery specializing in gourmet cupcakes, macarons, and individual desserts, known for creative fillings, premium ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Philadelphia second baseman Bryson Stott was a late scratch from the lineup due to personal reasons.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of scratch

Verb

Emmys nights one and two saw Widow’s Bay pick up a whopping eight trophies, one short of The Studio’s total of nine last year, and this evening might end with Widow’s Bay grabbing a lot of the same awards The Studio did last year.

— Vulture Staff, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Researchers have long recognized that humor can grab attention, deepen social connection, and build attraction.

— Norbert Schwarz, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of grab

Verb

Bangladesh has been racing to halt the outbreak's spread since March, when more than 100 children died in less than a month.

— JULHAS ALAM, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Thomas, who signed with Seattle in free agency, raced over at just the right time to break up a deep pass intended for Doubs.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of race

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tea party

tear

tearaway

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Style

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tear

noun

verb

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Synonyms of tear

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing tear

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on tear

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Words from the 'Odyssey'

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Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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Games & Quizzes