tore

past tense of tear
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

Relevance
2
3

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 Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season, isn't close to returning, and Pearsall and Jennings have what appear to be more minor ailments. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 Bosa also tore his ACL at MetLife Stadium. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Nabers also partially tore his lateral meniscus, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 The bar was open for a month before the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene tore through the space, leaving a nasty mess. Laura Hackett, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025 Then-Bucks, now Blazers star Damian Lillard and Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton also tore their Achilles tendons. Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 When Helene tore through Western North Carolina, more than 100 people were killed, thousands lost their homes, and familiar roads and creeks became unrecognizable. Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2025 After entering free agency fully healthy coming off an Achilles tear in February’s Super Bowl, Greenlaw tore his quad in the offseason — setting in motion an arduous recovery that’ll continue with his stint on injured reserve. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025 The Carolina Panthers’ outside linebacker tore his quad on Christmas Eve last year in what turned out to be his final game with the Minnesota Vikings. Joseph Person, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore
Verb
  • In the fourth quarter, Seguin’s defense forced another turnover when Micah Bolden ripped the ball away from a Wolves player and returned it to midfield.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Its approach to comedy is ripped straight from the world of musical cast parties and improv shows, with every performer doing their best to turn every line into a GIF-able burst of wholesome self-deprecation.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some even report being pinched and yanked at while in the room, staff say the pincher is the ghost of a homeless little girl who occupied the vacant prison during the Great Depression.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Annoyed Detroit ticketholders reacted Wednesday on YoungBoy fan sites after the LCA show was yanked from the tour schedule.
    Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Howden, a backup pressed into action by injuries to both starting safeties, raced 86 yards for a touchdown that punctuated a 26-14 Saints win.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The Tar Heels were boat raced by TCU and UCF, losing by a combined 82-23.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The incident occurred near 87th Avenue and Van Buren Street when a man grabbed a girl by the arm.
    Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Riddle then grabbed Quirke by the collar and threw him down onto a table before walking off the set with a TMZ championship belt.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His scraggly beard seems grown to be wrenched.
    Roy Scranton August 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The criminal complaint says Roberts initially sped away from ICE officers in his Jeep Cherokee, before abandoning the vehicle in nearby grass.
    Max Rego, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Austin Wells followed by slicing a single to right as Chisholm sped around the bases, sliding headfirst just ahead of Nate Eaton’s throw as New York took the lead.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The number of people using the FAIR plan for fire insurance has increased dramatically in recent years as companies have pulled back business in the state due to losses caused by major wildfires arising from risks due to climate change and other factors.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • On their first possession, Mahomes stood in the pocket with the Chiefs in the red zone, spotted receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster open down the middle and pulled the trigger on a third-down pass.
    Sam McDowell October 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The eye midge may have implanted itself elsewhere and there’s no telling where those other icky creatures from Prodigy’s labs have scurried off to, but those are questions that will no doubt be answered once/if FX announces a second season.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
  • In the planning stages of the two-part Viking mission, which landed spacecraft on Mars in the mid-seventies, Sagan argued that the probes should include lights and cameras, in case creatures scurried past.
    David W. Brown, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tore. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on tore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!