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
Decades after the highway first tore through our borough, children here still battle the worst asthma rates nationwide.
—
Gustavo Rivera, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several of the Grand Canyon’s most popular trails remain closed after devastating wildfires tore through the park.
—Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Strnad, meanwhile, went multiple seasons between playing defensive snaps, but stepped into a major role when Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2024 season.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Minshew was expected to start the final three games for the Chiefs after Mahomes tore his ACL in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Leger-Walker played her first four seasons at Washington State but tore her anterior cruciate ligament midway through her senior year.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
All around Union City — a village of less than 2,000 people — men, women and children scrambled to clean up the wreckage of a tornado that tore through late Friday evening.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This week in Michigan, a large and extremely powerful tornado tore through the city of Three Rivers.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
That project caused sections of Conner Street from 14th Street to 6th Street to close while crews tore out 100-year-old subsurface brick and replaced it with asphalt and concrete.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 3 Mar. 2026
Gustavo Rivera, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several of the Grand Canyon’s most popular trails remain closed after devastating wildfires tore through the park.
—Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Strnad, meanwhile, went multiple seasons between playing defensive snaps, but stepped into a major role when Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2024 season.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Minshew was expected to start the final three games for the Chiefs after Mahomes tore his ACL in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Leger-Walker played her first four seasons at Washington State but tore her anterior cruciate ligament midway through her senior year.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
All around Union City — a village of less than 2,000 people — men, women and children scrambled to clean up the wreckage of a tornado that tore through late Friday evening.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This week in Michigan, a large and extremely powerful tornado tore through the city of Three Rivers.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
That project caused sections of Conner Street from 14th Street to 6th Street to close while crews tore out 100-year-old subsurface brick and replaced it with asphalt and concrete.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore
Verb
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Nestor Reyes played a ball into the box that rolled out toward the top of the area, where Rodriguez ripped a shot into the left corner of the goal.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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The sophomore rushed the puck into the offensive zone, cut toward the middle and ripped a shot that nailed the top corner and extended the lead to two.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While there is no physical blockade in the strait, Iran has threatened to attack any vessels moving through it, and insurers have yanked their war-risk policies, leaving hundreds of tankers in limbo.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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Grand Rapids yanked Sherlock with 44 seconds to play, and the extra man paid off as Jameson Duell scored 15 seconds later to tie the game and send it into overtime.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 2020 Democratic presidential primary, the party's last open nominating contest, featured a rush to the left as candidates raced to embrace far-reaching ideas including Medicare-for-all, the Green New Deal and aggressive taxes on billionaires.—
JEFF STEIN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Storms that raced through the area early Friday, with frequent lightning and thunder, are expected to linger into the morning before moving out, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After scoring over Denver center Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter, James fell to the court and immediately grabbed his left elbow.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Based on court records, witness testimony and interviews with law enforcement, it’s believed that Sarah Wondra, along with one of the roommates, grabbed Michael and brought him back to the Wondras’ house.—
Alex Brizee
March 5,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the plane twisted upward, the air pressure wrenched off another tail fin.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Experts believe the crown’s flexible mount was strained when thieves wrenched it from its display through a narrow slot cut by the angle grinder, according to a report by the Louvre.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Volunteers, including McGuire, sped to the shores of Huntington Beach to help.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The car sped through the streets.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Brent crude, which at one point neared $120 a barrel, pulled back significantly to around $90.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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As a result, insurers, oil companies and cargo firms have pulled back from operating in the area or transiting the critical waterway.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The clatter of rising shutters echoed through the empty streets, the occasional rambler scurried past, along the walls, bundled tightly in his coat, women walked by with milk bottles tucked in shawls wrapped around their chests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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