TEARS Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

tears 1 of 2

noun

plural of tear

as in slits

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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tears

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tear

as in rips

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in yanks

to separate or remove by forceful pulling tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattaches

as in rushes

to proceed or move quickly she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tears

Noun

Your eyes constantly produce a thin layer of basal tears to keep the cornea lubricated, and the duct quietly shuttles that trickle into the nose, where it’s absorbed or blended into normal nasal mucus without a trace. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 The testimony elicited visible emotion from Celeste’s family — her mother wiped away tears — who remained in court throughout the testimony. — Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 22 July 2026 Once the outer lining tears, the testicle can bleed internally while also bleeding into the scrotum. — Angela Haupt, Time, 22 July 2026 Artificial tears instantly replenish moisture and soothe irritation. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 July 2026 During a recent appearance on The View promoting her latest film The Odyssey, Anne Hathaway was unexpectedly moved to tears by a comment from the show’s co-host Whoopi Goldberg. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 21 July 2026 Health issues might arise and other competitions could emerge as linemen’s blood, sweat and tears flow. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026 While relatives looked on in bemusement, my brother and I burst into tears, inconsolable. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026 On Wednesday, Argentina player Lisandro Martínez was asked if the banner could have stirred deep emotions and tears for a veteran of the Malvinas conflict. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Verb

Carter further complicates things in last week’s episode, when he drunkly tears an animal mount off the wall during Oreana’s grandmother’s big party at the 10-Petal Ranch. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026 As an example of how his platform would work, Wehmeyer pointed to processing insurance claims after a tornado tears through a house in Minnesota. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 24 June 2026 While the director tears his hair out, the producers see the footage and sign the Minions on the spot, but their fame is short-lived with the arrival of the talkies. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 21 June 2026 Peppler tears big chunks of it off and passes it around for everyone to try, before illustrating the culinary importance of a good pissaladière. — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 When a battery dies, the industry routinely tears it apart to access the parts that matter. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026 Heavy machinery tears into the Chit Chat Cafe at the base of the Pacifica Municipal Pier, June 9, 2026. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 9 June 2026 The Un Certain Regard best actor award went to Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset for his turn in Rafiki Fariala’s Congo Boy, playing a teen talent in the Central African Republic who dreams of a career in music as a civil war tears his country apart. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 There was laughter, nervous laughter, lots of nervous laughter, and also tears. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tears

Noun

The relaxed-fit blouse features a curved layered hem with side slits and quarter-length sleeves that can be rolled up or worn down.

— Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
His mother, who spent time in jail and rehab due to drug addiction, testified Colt repeatedly damaged their home, broke TVs and cut slits into furniture.

— Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Definition of slits

Verb

It’s followed by Watts, coming in on drums slightly offbeat, and then Richards, who rips the song open with his five-string open G tuning technique.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
During his tour, a solar flare causes an electromagnetic disturbance that rips through the systems of civilization and into the data center.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Definition of rips

Verb

Johnson yanks veterans' benefits package An effort to advance a package of VA benefits bills this morning on the House floor went down in flames – the latest in Speaker Mike Johnson's struggle to get Republicans on the same page.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026

Definition of yanks

Verb

When the aorta bursts, blood rushes through the tear, which often leads to sudden death.

— Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Blood rushes through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split; normal blood flow throughout the body may slow or stop.

— Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Definition of rushes

Noun

Six legs and a center support help create a stable foundation, while linen protectors cover the rail ends and floor-friendly glides help prevent scratches on hard floors.

— Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026
So consider the size and severity of scratches and markings, as well as the item’s price.

— Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

Definition of scratches

Verb

What makes the Drama races different is that Apple TV series have struggled much more to find its bearings here.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Once inside, the burglar sends in a robotic assistant that races through the rooms, checks drawers, copies keys, locks cabinets and writes a demand note asking for money to unlock the data.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of races

Verb

Also, take care to keep potatoes away from onions, as onions release ethylene gas, which speeds up the sprouting process.

— Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026
Beyond producing highly uniform nanowires, the technique speeds up materials research.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026