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 After the Norte fire tore through 570 acres across south Orange County, destroying many homes, everybody needed this. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Haliburton tore his Achilles during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City in June 2025 and missed the entire 2025-26 season. — Peter Finney Jr, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Extreme waves that winter destroyed one-third of the Santa Monica Pier and tore off large sections of the Huntington Beach Pier and the Paradise Cove Pier, while also damaging the Seal Beach, San Clemente and Malibu piers. — Gary Griggs, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026 An investigation is underway in Northwest Miami-Dade after a massive fire tore through a mobile home in West Little River early Tuesday morning, according to investigators. — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 The collapse comes just weeks after a fire tore through a hospital in the capital Islamabad, killing at least 14 newborns and sparking widespread anger and multiple arrests. — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 In a game in which Kansas City needed a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL, with Los Angeles eventually winning 16-13. — Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Producers Arya Ibrahim and Gita Fara describe the project as a story of the political upheaval of 1965, which tore families apart and left people who lost their citizenship living as exiles. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 In the absence of De’Von Achane, the running back who tore his ACL in Week 3, Ollie Gordon II has stepped up. — Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore

Verb

Witnesses said the speeding car jumped over a sidewalk, knocked down a chain-link fence and ripped out another wooden fence before going airborne into the house.

— Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
When the quarterback sneak is ripped from the playbook, creativity isn’t cute.

— Sam McDowell October 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Ignoring that rule could get flood insurance coverage yanked for an entire community.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Wi-Fi is not free on those services; T-Mobile used to comp at least an hour of connectivity for subscribers, but quietly yanked that benefit in April.

— Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of yanked

Verb

Quarterback Cale Hellums ran for 195 yards and five touchdowns and Army raced past Florida Atlantic 56-24 on Saturday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
The Jayhawks, who raced to an early 17-7 lead and held a six-point lead in the third quarter, ultimately dropped a 35-24 decision to the Wildcats on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of raced

Verb

Nantz tried to knock the ball from Watt, but hit his wrist hard on the football and immediately grabbed his hand.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
The former center grabbed headlines in March for commenting on a Rangers loss that coincided with the team’s Pride Night celebration.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

The bit caught a pipe strap and wrenched him off a ladder, tearing off his thumb and mangling his hand.

— Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after passengers stormed the cockpit and wrenched back controlfrom the attacker, who Israeli officials suspect was trying to crash the plane.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrenched

Verb

The Off Campus duo, Emma Watson, Hunter Schafer, Chase Infiniti, and Tyriq Withers, who all scurried off together to continue the already-memorable night elsewhere.

— Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026
Daniels also could have scurried to his feet and spiked the ball because there were seven seconds remaining when he was tackled.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of scurried

Verb

Michael Whatley‘s campaign against Democrat Roy Cooper on Tuesday evening, even as Republican PACs have quietly pulled funding from the race.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
Wilson is part of the reason three mothers pulled their children this year from a San Diego-area Christian school, which pursued an affiliation with ACCS.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026