Synonyms of tear

tear 1 of 2

noun

ˈter 

as in slit

a long deep cut

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slit
• scratch
• rip
• slash
• fracture
• injury
• gash
• laceration
• incision
• rent
• wound
• scrape
• abrasion
• rupture
• crack
• score
• snag

tear

2 of 2

verb

ˈter 

1

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

• rip
• rend
• shred
• ribbon
• break
• rive
• split
• cut
• tatter
• rupture
• cleave
• slash
• lacerate
• dissect
• incise
• butcher
• gash
• dismember
• mangle
• hack

2

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rip
• yank
• grab
• pull
• snatch
• wrench
• wrest
• pry
• cut (off)
• sever
• extract
• seize
• snap (up)
• force
• uproot
• amputate
• lop (off)
• jerk
• prize
• nab
• nip
• dissever
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattach

3

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

• speed
• scurry
• race
• hurry
• fly
• rush
• drive
• travel
• trot
• chase
• zip
• blow
• rip
• jump
• run
• scoot
• buzz
• dart
• blast
• scuttle
• step
• dash
• bolt
• shoot
• hurl
• zoom
• jog
• breeze
• blaze
• motor
• bowl
• crack (on)
• ram
• rustle
• hasten
• jet
• whirl
• hustle
• bundle
• rocket
• course
• belt
• pelt
• career
• hie
• hurtle
• barrel
• hare
• beat it
• hump
• whisk
• step on it
• nip
• bustle
• get a move on
• careen
• bomb
• highball
• gallop
• make tracks
• shake a leg
• cannonball
• streak
• hotfoot (it)
• flit
• scamper
• accelerate
• beetle
• stampede
• sprint
• step out
• quicken
• overtake
• whiz
• scuffle
• outrun
• scud
• outstrip
• outpace
• catch up
• whizz
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• linger
• poke
• lag
• tarry
• stroll
• loiter
• dawdle
• shuffle
• saunter
• amble
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• decelerate
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

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

Recent Examples of tear

Noun

This sparked heated debates, hurt feelings and lots of tears. —Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025

The magic on our stages over the past 40 years has evoked countless laughs and tears, endless debate and reflection, untold moments of angst and joy, infinite sparks of inspiration and creativity, and truly immeasurable emotions of hope, surprise, and happiness. —Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

Verb

Movie Night 2025 is bound to bring couples together or tear them apart. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

The bodies of the doctor, his wife, daughter and son-in-law, arrived at Shifa Hospital torn into pieces, according to Issam Nabhan, head of the nursing department at the Indonesian Hospital. —arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025

Phrases Containing tear

• tear (out)
• tear down
• tear into
• tear one's hair
• wear and tear