as in hoodlum
Related Words
Relevance
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 tearaway
Jane Wickline’s character reveals her own tearaway outfit for a nice button to the sketch.
—
Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2026
Alexia and her partner, Chris, who only shared their first names, are preparing to marry in October, and sent out wedding invitations to friends and family earlier this year, with a tearaway RSVP card and pre-stamped envelopes.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Folding cardboard kiosks in employee breakrooms with a tearaway pad to submit ideas to corporate.
—Elizabeth Baskin, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Lululemon Women’s Tear-away Mid-rise Track Pants $128 $69 at Lululemon
I was born in 1989 and fondly remember when tearaways were all the rage in the late ‘90s.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2024
Special Features: Some features such as zip pockets, linings (compression or not), perforated details, drawstring gadgets, and tearaway tags are useful.
—Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2023
The troupe’s costumer, Denise (Juliette Lewis), smooths out the act’s kinks by supplying tearaway pants.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2022
As for the origin of the tearaway pants, also used by NBA players to instantly bypass shoes for pants removal, that's not clear.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2022
Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2026
Alexia and her partner, Chris, who only shared their first names, are preparing to marry in October, and sent out wedding invitations to friends and family earlier this year, with a tearaway RSVP card and pre-stamped envelopes.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Folding cardboard kiosks in employee breakrooms with a tearaway pad to submit ideas to corporate.
—Elizabeth Baskin, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Lululemon Women’s Tear-away Mid-rise Track Pants $128 $69 at Lululemon
I was born in 1989 and fondly remember when tearaways were all the rage in the late ‘90s.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2024
Special Features: Some features such as zip pockets, linings (compression or not), perforated details, drawstring gadgets, and tearaway tags are useful.
—Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2023
The troupe’s costumer, Denise (Juliette Lewis), smooths out the act’s kinks by supplying tearaway pants.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2022
As for the origin of the tearaway pants, also used by NBA players to instantly bypass shoes for pants removal, that's not clear.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearaway
Noun
-
In the past decade, the leadership of the Kinahan organization has become rich and cosmopolitan, and their life styles have started to resemble those of international businessmen more than of street hoodlums.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Knesset recently legalized the death penalty for Arabs who murder Jews, but not for the hoodlum Israeli settlers who have been killing West Bank residents to seize their land.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Bruce stands apart from his fellow hooligans.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Passengers could only stare out the windows as about a dozen hooligans jumped atop the bus while others sprayed it with graffiti, including on the bus' windshield.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The only ones making money on alcohol now were gangsters.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 May 2026
-
The gangsters who are running the country almost pride themselves on a lack of subtlety and finesse.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
So, while Rue and Maddy are confabbing over milkshakes in a diner, Alamo sends Rue off for a drive with his two toughs, G (Marshawn Lynch) and the icy Bishop (Darrell Britt-Gibson).—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
The Bookie & The Bruiser is set in 1959 New York City and features a pensive Jewish fellow named Rivner (James) and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo (Vaughn).—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
All of the suspects were dressed head-to-toe in black, with some wearing hoods and masks.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
The dress had a hood attached that acted as a veil; when Taylor removed it, the dress transformed into an off-the-shoulder stunner.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The show focuses on roughnecks and billionaires in West Texas who are trying to get rich as the oil industry continues to take over the state.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The series has lent a cinematic gangster attraction to the Peaky Blinders, yet the term itself was not one gang — as depicted in the show — but a generic expression from the late 19th century for the ‘street ruffians’ of Birmingham, born out of the city’s ring of poverty.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, the GTW ruffians have to give the Big Honey some props for his relative restraint in the heat of the moment.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearaway. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
