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
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Recent Examples of tears
Okla Jones, Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
What happened in the moments after is a memory that continues to bring tears Chupp's eyes.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
There were definitely some tears.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Denji is bored out of his mind by most of them, but the last film is good enough to move him to tears.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
To see how much this moment pained Seattle and its players, look no further than MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, who was reduced to tears at the end of the game.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Viral Reaction The viral video has inspired an outpouring of emotion from viewers, many of whom said they were moved to tears watching her determination.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The final episode of the latest season followed the couples on their wedding day and the aftermath, which mostly ended in tears and heartbreak.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The rest of them gathered right beneath the trap, reaching up with pudgy arms and the tiniest fingers, eyes suddenly dripping tears.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
The Achilles tears that the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered during the 2025 playoffs have made the race for the conference wide open this coming season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In this kind of system, scientists theorize that the black hole tears the neutron star apart before swallowing it, which releases electromagnetic waves.
—Chad Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But as the war tears at civilian life, Sashi’s four brothers and their friend K are pulled into the conflict.
—Eliana Ramage
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Bad Bunny plays Colorado, the drug ring leader, and Regina King is a crooked NY cop who tears the protagonist’s ordinary life apart.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Naomi holds her family together and tears it apart in ways that feel instantly familiar in unsettling or reductive ways.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
In 2019, Roger Federer stood at center court in Basel, Switzerland, with gold confetti raining from above and tears streaming down his face.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
That process involves selling a majority of units to a developer who dissolves the condo association, tears the building down and builds new.
—Rebecca Liebson, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Her husband and young son joined her onstage in a tender surprise that brought many in the crowd to tears.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
What happened in the moments after is a memory that continues to bring tears Chupp's eyes.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
There were definitely some tears.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Denji is bored out of his mind by most of them, but the last film is good enough to move him to tears.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
To see how much this moment pained Seattle and its players, look no further than MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, who was reduced to tears at the end of the game.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Viral Reaction The viral video has inspired an outpouring of emotion from viewers, many of whom said they were moved to tears watching her determination.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The final episode of the latest season followed the couples on their wedding day and the aftermath, which mostly ended in tears and heartbreak.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The rest of them gathered right beneath the trap, reaching up with pudgy arms and the tiniest fingers, eyes suddenly dripping tears.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
First released in 2020 on South Africa’s M-Net, a division of MultiChoice, and now a Canal Plus company, the thriller about how a family tears itself apart in a succession battle built a huge fandom in South Africa and fame abroad.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
The Achilles tears that the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered during the 2025 playoffs have made the race for the conference wide open this coming season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In this kind of system, scientists theorize that the black hole tears the neutron star apart before swallowing it, which releases electromagnetic waves.
—Chad Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But as the war tears at civilian life, Sashi’s four brothers and their friend K are pulled into the conflict.
—Eliana Ramage
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Bad Bunny plays Colorado, the drug ring leader, and Regina King is a crooked NY cop who tears the protagonist’s ordinary life apart.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Naomi holds her family together and tears it apart in ways that feel instantly familiar in unsettling or reductive ways.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
In 2019, Roger Federer stood at center court in Basel, Switzerland, with gold confetti raining from above and tears streaming down his face.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
That process involves selling a majority of units to a developer who dissolves the condo association, tears the building down and builds new.
—Rebecca Liebson, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tears
Noun
-
Using sharp paring knife, cut four 1 1/2-inch long slits in top of dough (think of a clock for slit placement at 12,3,6,9 positions).—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Its large leaves develop holes and slits that have earned it the name Swiss cheese plant.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Continue reading … CRIME MAGNET – Washington Post rips Democratic Socialist's costly bus proposal for New Yorkers.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The Meadow Vista Community Center, located at 1101 Meadow Vista Road, could also serve as an evacuation site if a fire rips through the area, residents said.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Suddenly, someone in the audience yanks her violently into the screaming mass of people.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In each Whatever After novel, a magic portal yanks the main character, Abby, out of her comfortable life and thrusts her into another reality.—
Sarah Mlynowski,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ports like Los Angeles are clogged with pre-tariff inventory rushes, causing multi-week bottlenecks.—
Vitalii Savryha,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The Broncos’ second-year quarterback became the first player in NFL history to log two touchdown passes and two touchdown rushes in a fourth quarter.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Pander fanny pack from Amazon is made with water-resistant nylon and stands up against scratches, promising long-lasting durability.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Even worse, scratches, dents, and imperfections can stand out dramatically.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After Grace quotes Zooey Deschanel's character, Thames grabs her face and kisses her out of the frame.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Another strong Lions performance could mark a turning point this season where Detroit grabs control of the division and doesn't look back.—
Nick Meyer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Boise and Garden City races One candidate running for Boise City Council has past drug charges, the Statesman found.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Filmmaker Jordan Peele's feature debut and first venture into the realm of horror is an almost flawless, emotional roller coaster that races on the tracks of both Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and The Stepford Wives (1975).—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
During one depressive episode, Springsteen somberly speeds down the road in his Camaro before violently hitting the brake.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Jonah escapes and speeds off in a bright yellow Jeep with Tali hiding in the back.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tears. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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