1
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in yanked
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in raced
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 tore
Multiple tornadoes already tore through several states this week.
—
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2026
But Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15, and the Packers lost four in a row after that ghastly break.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Fedors is still not back in his house after flames from the Eaton Fire tore through the back of his property, wiping out the vegetation that held his slope together.
—Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
However, the 29-year-old tore an ACL in the Commanders’ 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home, ending his year prematurely after just nine games.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Philly flashbacks There was no shortage of hard feelings (and maybe some sour grapes) when the 49ers lost 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game following the 2022 season when Haason Reddick sacked Purdy and tore the UCL in his right elbow.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Diggs’ presence also could help a Packers defense that has struggled ever since Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a 34-26 loss at Denver that started the four-game skid to end Green Bay’s regular season.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
In the wake of deadly fires in 2017 and 2018 in rural northern California, property insurers were faced with potentially staggering losses if fires tore through more densely populated suburbs in the future.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Across Los Angeles County, at least 100,000 other residents were also forced to flee their homes in the westside as well as in Altadena, more than 30 miles to the east, as the Eaton Fire tore through the San Gabriel Mountains.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2026
But Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15, and the Packers lost four in a row after that ghastly break.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Fedors is still not back in his house after flames from the Eaton Fire tore through the back of his property, wiping out the vegetation that held his slope together.
—Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
However, the 29-year-old tore an ACL in the Commanders’ 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home, ending his year prematurely after just nine games.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Philly flashbacks There was no shortage of hard feelings (and maybe some sour grapes) when the 49ers lost 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game following the 2022 season when Haason Reddick sacked Purdy and tore the UCL in his right elbow.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Diggs’ presence also could help a Packers defense that has struggled ever since Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a 34-26 loss at Denver that started the four-game skid to end Green Bay’s regular season.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
In the wake of deadly fires in 2017 and 2018 in rural northern California, property insurers were faced with potentially staggering losses if fires tore through more densely populated suburbs in the future.
—Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Across Los Angeles County, at least 100,000 other residents were also forced to flee their homes in the westside as well as in Altadena, more than 30 miles to the east, as the Eaton Fire tore through the San Gabriel Mountains.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore
Verb
-
Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
As a result of that low demand and a massive decline in sales, producers in the Golden State have ripped out nearly 40,000 acres of vines over the past year, according to a new report from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Officer Alex Millan then yanked open the passenger door of the suspects’ car; at the same time, the car drove forward over the curb.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Furious too that anyone could think the defender had deliberately yanked the striker’s hair.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Schyler Dethorne raced 68-yards for a TD and Belton tallied scoring runs of six and 52-yards, as Alvarado held a 28-3 lead after the opening quarter.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Much of CoreWeave’s utility has come from offering readily available compute as those companies raced to scale up their own operations.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Javonte Green missed a potential tying 3-point try and Paul Reed grabbed the rebound, but committed Detroit's 25th turnover.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Carolyn Collins scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Mya Korpal had 15 points as Winchester came back to defeat Reading 54-53 in Middlesex League play.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But this just shows you how every debate there is wrenched into this absurdist distortion.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Toyota crashed, and the Charger sped away, according to court records.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
His arm was pinned into the back window of a car as a suspect sped away, dragging him across the pavement for about 100 yards, according to court documents.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago pulled within 21-16 on D'Andre Swift's 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The slightly oversized cut offers comfort for long travel days, while looking pulled-together.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tirado scurried to at least half a dozen bags before finding his and pulling out … pickle juice.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
-
The voles scurried away when the little nightingale tried to sing, though not out of cruelty.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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