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
Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Just over an hour into opening statements into the vessel homicide and manslaughter trial of George Pino, who crashed his boat into a Biscayne Bay channel marker almost four years ago, killing a teenage girl, the Doral real estate broker broke down in tears.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
The two colleagues and close friends shed tears during an emotional conversation about how Guthrie has managed to soldier on and do her hosting job every day while grappling with her 84-year-old mother's disappearance in February.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The recital comes amid a busy summer for the family, as the Chiefs’ signal-caller recovers from ACL and LCL tears.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Through the tears and the triumphs, there were moments that slipped under the radar worthy of attention.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Skladan broke down in tears of joy.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
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
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 9 June 2026
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
Jeffries tears into DeSantis as 'charismatically challenged' over redistricting gambit.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Korda gasped, covered her mouth, waved to the crowd and wiped away tears.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Just over an hour into opening statements into the vessel homicide and manslaughter trial of George Pino, who crashed his boat into a Biscayne Bay channel marker almost four years ago, killing a teenage girl, the Doral real estate broker broke down in tears.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
The two colleagues and close friends shed tears during an emotional conversation about how Guthrie has managed to soldier on and do her hosting job every day while grappling with her 84-year-old mother's disappearance in February.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The recital comes amid a busy summer for the family, as the Chiefs’ signal-caller recovers from ACL and LCL tears.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Through the tears and the triumphs, there were moments that slipped under the radar worthy of attention.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Skladan broke down in tears of joy.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
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
Verb
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
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
Jeffries tears into DeSantis as 'charismatically challenged' over redistricting gambit.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tears
Noun
-
These pants sit high on the waist, creating a leg-lengthening effect, and the side slits at the hem are perfect for showing off your Cushionaire sandals.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2026
-
The original creator opted to piece her garland together by cutting identical slits in the bottom and top of each strip, then sliding them together to create a chain.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The dimple in the mattress stretches into a deep depression, one that essentially rips all the way through.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 June 2026
-
Continue reading … LEFT EATS LEFT — Hasan Piker rips NJ governor for doing ICE's job with state troopers at ICE facility.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 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
-
After Amanda rushes off the stage in tears and decamps to her dressing room, West declines to go after her, sitting around onstage like a deer in headlights.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
Preston is a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver, going east-west more on his forehand.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Like the experimental teeth, the ones from Neanderthal archaeological sites had the same overlapping small fractures, shallow indentations, and shallow scratches.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
-
An upper-body injury knocked him out for a significant period but there were also healthy scratches mixed in.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
2 June 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
-
Its most recent 54th run was record-breaking, the biggest marathon in history, with 132 countries represented, 59,226 finishers and by far the highest number of spectators in every neighborhood who supported and cheered runners on a route that races through all five boroughs.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Ramsay speeds through many of the action shots to instead focus on Joe’s psyche.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Adrenaline speeds up peristalsis, the contractions and constrictions of the intestines, while blood is diverted from the digestive system, which can cause nausea.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tears. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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