tear 1 of 2

Definition of tearnext
as in slit
a long deep cut repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tear

2 of 2

verb

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
From kiss curls to diamond tears, Rihanna attended this year's Met Gala in a beauty look worth its weight in gold. Essence, 5 May 2026 Through your tears, see a brief, shimmering vision of What Might Have Been. Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Verb
An investigation is underway in Pompano Beach after an early morning fire tore through a quadruplex that displaced six people and injured two people, officials say. Marybel Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 May 2026 That game illuminates the tension between self and community that has fueled the show’s longevity, and reflects the preoccupations of a country that has always been torn between the two. Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear
Noun
  • The form-fitting dress hit at her shins and featured a sexy slit.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
  • Foster wore a sparkly gold one-shoulder gown with a slit that showed her left leg as well as her matching gold heels.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Political attack ads abound ahead of the June 2 statewide direct primary election, with competing candidates finding new, creative ways to rip each other apart over their records on immigration, corruption or cashing in on the fossil fuel industry.
    Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
  • The mega-tsunami wreaked havoc across the landscape, stripping forests down to bare rock, ripping trees out by their roots and hurling boulders.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Now, the Sentinel has learned, Florida is taking an inconsistent approach to cleaning up its mess, yanking the licenses of 47 nurses who attended schools cited by the FBI but allowing others to keep working, even when it has been alerted to their shortcomings.
    Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
  • On Tuesday, Carr tweeted that the FCC was wrong to yank an $886 million broadband-buildout award from SpaceX in 2022 on the grounds that Starlink could not meet speed requirements throughout its service areas and would cost too much.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • On housing, Arenas noted her efforts to make planning and development more streamlined to speed up building, and pointed out how her office worked on a state bill, signed into law in 2024, that would ease permitting requirements and allow for denser farmworker housing.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
  • In April, about one in four companies cited artificial intelligence as the reason for layoffs, a growing trend as businesses seek to speed up workflows and cut costs.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Then, let the paste sit for a few minutes before scrubbing away with a clean cloth to reveal like-new furniture with no superficial scratches.
    Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
  • The most obvious someone is Ross Colton, who has played well since returning to the lineup but has had two snakebitten seasons in a row and was a healthy scratch to start the playoffs.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Executives said the focus this year has been on grabbing the biggest audiences and on how artificial intelligence is improving data and outcomes.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 11 May 2026
  • Reid played a big role in the season-saving quarter as well, scoring six points, grabbing three boards and picking up two assists, including a no-look dish to Gobert for a dunk with three minutes to play.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • When the news came that a horse had scratched, a great stir rose, and several of the groomsmen who were sitting in the stalls with their horse wards scurried to start their brisk brushing to get the pine shavings off and used their jute sacks to spit-shine the coats slick.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Your eyes may see the prairie dogs digging and scurrying.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After racing across the state to collect signatures, that campaign, called People Not Politicians, last year turned in more than 300,000 signatures to force a statewide vote on the map in November.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
  • As the drivers raced into Turn 1, a handful of drivers were caught up in a spin.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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