1
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
2
as in yanks
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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.
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Recent Examples of tears
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was emotional, bursting into tears as the final horn blew and again choking back emotions after being named the Most Valuable Player of the WCF.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
With tears running down his face, Dillard lit candles and placed posters of his son in front of the supermarket that now occupies the space where El Mula Banquet Hall once stood.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 May 2026
As a scorching wind tears across the barren, rocky slopes of Komote Island off the shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, Alfred Lenkutuk sits in the meager shelter of his hut, gazing out over the village where he was born and remembering better times.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
Moments later, as his father was wrapped in a silver and gold emergency thermal blanket before being placed on a stretcher, Oun wiped away a flood of tears – a release of more than a week’s worth of agonizing suspense.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
After the game, Brewer players, many of which were in tears, exchanged hugs while receiving their second place medals.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2026
She’s continuously confused about its premise, will burst into tears for no reason, and truly sees it as an opportunity to finally make friends in Rhode Island — no matter how misguided that intention may be.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 May 2026
The 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 started with tears and ended with rain.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026
Louis Mosca, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
But their fresh start is quickly upended when a wildfire tears through the property.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The current moment tears the Band-Aid off this old conflict and the complex system underneath.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Drink, drugs and sometimes tears.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Inheritance often tears families apart and much of that conflict is rooted in poor communication.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Jeffries tears into DeSantis as 'charismatically challenged' over redistricting gambit.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Bruins’ bat boy’s tears stained the front of Cholowsky’s jersey as his sobs grew heavier by the second.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was emotional, bursting into tears as the final horn blew and again choking back emotions after being named the Most Valuable Player of the WCF.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
With tears running down his face, Dillard lit candles and placed posters of his son in front of the supermarket that now occupies the space where El Mula Banquet Hall once stood.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 May 2026
As a scorching wind tears across the barren, rocky slopes of Komote Island off the shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, Alfred Lenkutuk sits in the meager shelter of his hut, gazing out over the village where he was born and remembering better times.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
Moments later, as his father was wrapped in a silver and gold emergency thermal blanket before being placed on a stretcher, Oun wiped away a flood of tears – a release of more than a week’s worth of agonizing suspense.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
After the game, Brewer players, many of which were in tears, exchanged hugs while receiving their second place medals.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2026
She’s continuously confused about its premise, will burst into tears for no reason, and truly sees it as an opportunity to finally make friends in Rhode Island — no matter how misguided that intention may be.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 May 2026
The 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 started with tears and ended with rain.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026
Verb
If any of those are missing on the platform side, the acquisition will find the gap and pull on it until something tears.
—Louis Mosca, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
But their fresh start is quickly upended when a wildfire tears through the property.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The current moment tears the Band-Aid off this old conflict and the complex system underneath.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Drink, drugs and sometimes tears.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Inheritance often tears families apart and much of that conflict is rooted in poor communication.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Jeffries tears into DeSantis as 'charismatically challenged' over redistricting gambit.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tears
Noun
-
Featuring a billowing tank with deep side slits and matching straight-leg pants, this is the perfect set to pack for your summer vacation.—
Morgan Evans,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
-
Crafted from 100% silk, the piece drapes with fluidity, while the dramatic arm slits create movement in a way that feels almost costume-like, set for a movie.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Pollinator-friendly plants are clustered across the large property, a hedge against the next storm that rips away the canopy.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Over eight episodes, the first season of Nemesis rips through more fiery events and story than most shows could in a multi-year run.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Maden takes thee wine bottle from him and the officers reach for his wrists but Brown resists and yanks his arms back, the video shows.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carolina are a force, but their style does actually surrender odd man rushes, etc.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
After spending much of the season together in Italy wth Claude’s family, their future plans are suddenly thrown into question when Danny rushes back to Philly after his mother is hospitalized.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Luckily, because of ceramic’s resistance to scratches, keeping your timepiece bright and polished is easier than doing the same for your teeth.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
Make Furniture Feet Protectors Avoiding floor scratches from your furniture is easy with old sponges.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
What Wolff came back with was the idea to take F1 Academy from a standalone series to one that races alongside F1.—
Danielle McNally,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
-
Big money continues to flow into four San Diego City Council races one week before the June 2 primary, including a major push by labor unions against independent Richard Bailey in District 2.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
But the technology risks becoming outdated as Starlink Mobile adds more robust features, including data for select mobile apps, video calling, and, eventually, 150Mbps speeds through a next-generation network.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2026
-
Adequate spacing ensures sunlight and air can reach all parts of the plant, which speeds up fruit production.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tears. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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