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
• crack (on)
• bowl
• ram
• rustle
• hasten
• jet
• whirl
• hustle
• bundle
• rocket
• course
• belt
• pelt
• career
• hie
• hurtle
• barrel
• hare
• beat it
• hump
• step on it
• whisk
• 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
• 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

Sure Brock Lesnar says he’s retired given his body’s wear-and-tear. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Had the Jays won more games to this point, those tears probably wouldn’t have been shed. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

The best cornhole bags are ones that will last game after game without ripping or tearing. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

As recently as 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through Florida weeks before Election Day, damaging 25 polling places and forcing a reduction of these centers. — Jonathan Webber, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing tear

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