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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tears
Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
Her husband Ve Bui accepted the honor, holding back tears.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Brownlee got the chance to sing with Minaj, which had the audience in tears.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
That is is why a letter from her insurer, Transamerica, postmarked April 25 brought her to tears.
—Megan De Mar, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Brunson was in tears after the game, barely able to speak when asked by ESPN what the moment meant.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
After the game, with the glimmer of tears in their eyes, the New Yorker editor David Remnick and Vinson Cunningham celebrated the win, and were joined by Louisa Thomas, who managed a bit more equanimity.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
In Canoga Park, family, friends and residents gathered outside the apartment complex Sunday night where one woman was seen collapsing in tears after exiting an ambulance, according to reporting from KTLA News.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 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
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
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
Noun
Unlike standard eye drops that get washed away by tears within minutes, living eye drops use bacteria that colonize the eye and continuously release therapeutic proteins after a single application.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
Her husband Ve Bui accepted the honor, holding back tears.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Brownlee got the chance to sing with Minaj, which had the audience in tears.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
That is is why a letter from her insurer, Transamerica, postmarked April 25 brought her to tears.
—Megan De Mar, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Brunson was in tears after the game, barely able to speak when asked by ESPN what the moment meant.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
After the game, with the glimmer of tears in their eyes, the New Yorker editor David Remnick and Vinson Cunningham celebrated the win, and were joined by Louisa Thomas, who managed a bit more equanimity.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
In Canoga Park, family, friends and residents gathered outside the apartment complex Sunday night where one woman was seen collapsing in tears after exiting an ambulance, according to reporting from KTLA News.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tears
Noun
-
Sleek and edgy in equal measure, the shoes were the perfect foil to Campbell’s casual denim-on-denim look, which consisted of a form-fitting cropped jean jacket and coordinating straight-leg true blues with slits on both sides.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
22 Nov. 2025
-
The top is a long-sleeve turtleneck with textured fabric and side slits.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The brilliantly flexible job system still rips (want to create a gun-toting mage?—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Wind gusts will likely take aim at the 40 mph range on Wednesday as a cold front rips through.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Get to work, then sit and wait The same principle that limits when the Legislature is in session yanks back the leash on when laws can actually be passed.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Traffic rushes by on the surrounding streets, but within the 16-acre neighborhood of Culdesac, cars are conspicuously absent.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
-
The stunt took place just yards from the waterfalls, where fast-moving water rushes toward steep drops.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
There are also thin, shallow scratches from hitting the jagged edge of a stone tool.—
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
-
Your Cholesterol Levels May Improve Oatmeal contains beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber that grabs onto cholesterol and carries it out of your body.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Journalists assume that Cinetic has the best taste, grabs the top films out of festivals, and executes with finesse.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The fate of roughly $2 billion annually that was intended to help reduce wildfire risk, promote clean water and build affordable housing, along with other efforts across California, is uncertain as the Legislature races to pass a state budget by Monday.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
In another clip, as the couple pulls into the driveway of the property, floodwater rapidly races down the concrete.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Heat speeds up chemical reactions in wine, which can ruin the flavor.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 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 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
