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 Braun tore ligaments in his left ankle last November and wasn’t quite the same after that. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 Tropical Storm Moke is making its closest approach to Hawaii as the state braces for its second tropical threat in less than a week after deadly Hurricane Lala tore through parts of the islands. — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 Last season, franchise left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon about a week after signing a four-year, $114 million contract extension. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 On Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service, an EF-1 tornado tore through Atlantic Beach in three minutes, leaving a path of damage about one-third of a mile long. — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026 In the following days, looters tore through the streets, setting hundreds of buildings on fire. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 Waller, who turns 34 in September, tore his quad during training camp in Miami last year. — Joseph Person, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 This follows a string of northwest Indiana locales that declared states of emergency earlier this week after hurricane-like derecho winds tore through the region. — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 15 Aug. 2026 Teter, who tore his ACL last season, will battle Dunham at QB. — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore

Verb

After Jeremy Pena singled, Alvarez ripped a low-inside sinker to the warning track in right-center for a 7-6 lead.

— CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Advocates for victims said that gun violence has ripped any sense of normalcy from families and entire neighborhoods.

— Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

The officer is also seen putting a woman in a patrol car, the same woman who is shown on the ground having her hair yanked by an officer.

— Briauna Brown, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
In Berkeley, where California clay culture yanked ceramics out of the category of polite craft and into something huge, physical, ugly, and beautiful, Heilmann learned to weld.

— Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of yanked

Verb

Barrichello competed as an F1 driver for 19 seasons and has also raced as an IndyCar and stock car driver.

— Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Drivers who raced in Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix praised everything from the challenging street course to the one-of-a-kind setting surrounding it.

— Mike Stunson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of raced

Verb

The charter Girardeau sailed with was about four miles out and almost at the its trip when word of the hammerhead was radioed out — the crew decided to take a chance and sped up the coast 15 minutes to see the shark still sauntering in the sea.

— Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
The two men ran, laughing, to the blue Mazda that was waiting for them, and Stana, who was driving, sped away.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026