TORE Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

tore

verb

Definition of tore

past tense of tear

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

Relevance

as in yanked

to separate or remove by forceful pulling tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattached

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

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 tore During another strong El Nino in 1997, hundreds of people died when Hurricane Pauline tore across Mexico’s Pacific coast. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 Three years later, former ESPN host Keith Olbermann celebrated when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in the opening minutes of the Jets’ season. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The longtime Malibu resident and his wife of 70 years, Gisela, moved north to be close to family last year after the Palisades Fire tore through their community. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 In the pre-sunrise hours on Humboldt Bay, a fishing boat called the Silver Spray encountered a powerful 18-foot wave that tore the top of the boat off, launching the four men aboard into the dark waves. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 The winter before, in January 1997, the Feather and Yuba tore through Yuba County. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026 The half-hour series is a dark revenge comedy about Emma and Eli, old friends who reconnect after a long estrangement and find new purpose in taking down the man who tore them apart. — Peter White, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 Ego Death wasn’t the first time that Williams tore herself apart and pulled herself back together through song. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 Natalie Shimizu and her family barely escaped when the fire tore through the Sea Spray condominium complex on August 2. — Kenny Choi, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore

Verb

At least one restroom was also heavily damaged, with sinks and barriers ripped from the walls.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Farsi, from a step inside the penalty box on the right side, ripped a low shot past goalkeeper Sébastian Breza and inside the back post to open the scoring in the 57th minute.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Brewers starter Dustin May gave up three runs and six hits before being yanked with one out in the third.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
In recent conversations with The Athletic, two coaches with deep affection for their alma mater described having the Camp Randall rug yanked from underneath them.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of yanked

Verb

Three plays later, Watson took a handoff and raced for a 14-yard touchdown.

— Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Diaby intercepted a pass in the attacking third, raced to the edge of the penalty box and blasted a rising shot into the net to cap the scoring in the 63rd minute.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of raced

Verb

Except a woman who knew both of them eventually grabbed Leigh and more or less threw her into Beck.

— Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Two veteran training officers and new paramedic Cristina DeBiase grabbed their equipment and gurney while another EMT remained with the ambulance and attempted to move it through traffic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

Hospital security reported that a vehicle had pulled up, dropped off the victim and then sped away.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Hall says that the process can be sped up with quick-cooking grits, but folks will have to figure out the correct proportions of liquid on their own.

— Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of sped

Verb

Berkeley police said the long object Shrine pulled from his pocket while following Winograd into her apartment building was believed to be a barbecue lighter.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Saints follows Lali, a drifter and a thief, who is pulled back to Barcelona to face and care for her estranged mother Gloria.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026