tear 1 of 2

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
Nancy Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic medalist and a Skating Club of Boston alum, was moved to tears during a news conference at the club’s facility Thursday. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025 Riley's mother thanked Trump while holding back tears. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
The teaser for the rest of Ellis’ season shows the reality star torn between two women on engagement day. Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025 The front passenger side door had been torn off, the windshield and windows were shattered and at least one tire was flattened. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for tear 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear
Noun
  • The skirt falls almost like a mermaid tail, and incorporates a very wide slit from the top of the leg.
    Ana Serrano, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2025
  • For the skirt and dress lovers out there, this set features a cute long-sleeve top and a midi skirt that has a subtle slit on it.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • His logic for ripping Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark for doing nothing more than watching a Chiefs game made no sense at all.
    Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In floor remarks Saturday morning, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ripped into the Trump administration for the move, saying that the dismissals are a possible violation of federal law.
    Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • However, Participant Media requested the festival yank the film from its lineup after learning that director Joseph submitted a new, secret cut to Sundance and other global fest’s without the media company’s knowledge.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
  • As things escalated, the attacker yanked out a machete intending to attack his rival’s dog — but the victim stepped in to protect his pooch, cops said.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump has promised to cut taxes and ease regulations on business, which could speed GDP growth.
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The answer was to stretch the silicon crystal lattice somewhat, allowing charge to speed through faster.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • But a large language model built from scratch typically requires many more such training runs — sometimes thousands.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Rather than adapting existing algorithms, Metal Minds creates solutions from scratch that reflect the physical and chemical processes occurring during steelmaking as accurately as possible while tailoring these solutions to meet clients’ specific needs.
    Svetlana Khachiyan, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In the hills of the Palisades, near the Temescal Ridge Trail, Alex Emerick, 34, his younger sister, Rainier, and their parents grabbed garden hoses at their home of 33 years.
    Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The witness jumped in to assist and grab the knife, cutting himself in the process.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In the first period, after Victor Hedman whiffed on an offensive-zone shot, Poitras scurried off with Frederic for a two-on-one rush.
    Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The animal scurried underneath the gate, where Colvin scooped him into his arms.
    John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Evolving since 2001’s The Fast and the Furious from looking at underground street racing to global espionage, the films have Ludacris playing Tej, a tech-savvy mechanic, race organizer and hacker who is a core member of Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) crew.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Forgetting to pay rent can lead to eviction; the sudden urge to race down a freeway could end in a crash.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

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