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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of tore
Hill’s following season unfortunately ended after four games as the wideout dislocated his knee and tore his ACL during the Week 4 victory the New York Jets.
—
Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Jayson Tatum, who also tore his Achilles in last spring’s playoffs, is back in practice with Boston’s G League team.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Perhaps that sudden ellipsis – the vanishing of a crisis that nearly tore the alliance to shreds weeks earlier – was gift enough.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Nearly three years after a high-speed migrant smuggling chase tore through the small West Texas town of Ozona and killed a grandmother and her 7-year-old granddaughter, a federal grand jury has indicted the Louisiana man authorities say was behind the wheel.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
The blazes that tore through Chile’s Biobio and Ñuble regions in mid-January killed 23 people, destroyed over 1,000 houses and other structures and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Havertz has struggled with injuries in the last year and tore the hamstring in his right leg during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai in February 2025.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Fourteen people were displaced after a quick-moving second-alarm fire tore through a triple-decker home in Lynn Monday evening.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
However, after Penix tore his ACL nine games into the 2025 season, Cousins once again became the Falcons’ starter.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Jayson Tatum, who also tore his Achilles in last spring’s playoffs, is back in practice with Boston’s G League team.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Perhaps that sudden ellipsis – the vanishing of a crisis that nearly tore the alliance to shreds weeks earlier – was gift enough.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Nearly three years after a high-speed migrant smuggling chase tore through the small West Texas town of Ozona and killed a grandmother and her 7-year-old granddaughter, a federal grand jury has indicted the Louisiana man authorities say was behind the wheel.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
The blazes that tore through Chile’s Biobio and Ñuble regions in mid-January killed 23 people, destroyed over 1,000 houses and other structures and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Havertz has struggled with injuries in the last year and tore the hamstring in his right leg during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai in February 2025.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Fourteen people were displaced after a quick-moving second-alarm fire tore through a triple-decker home in Lynn Monday evening.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
However, after Penix tore his ACL nine games into the 2025 season, Cousins once again became the Falcons’ starter.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore
Verb
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Remember that donated items should still be suitable for use—don't give away anything that's ripped, stained, or broken.—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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The stock ripped higher from April 2025 through August 2025, gaining nearly 120% over that stretch.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The gloves were off and the two were grappling at each other’s jerseys for position when Crinon grabbed Wilson by the sweater and yanked him to the ice, effectively ending the fight.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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The National Institutes of Health, part of HHS, also yanked dozens of research grants supporting studies of vaccine hesitancy last year.—
Amanda Seitz,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The excitement is real — the first time Pastrana raced in the Daytona 500.—
Ryan Morik Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Inside an Irving Park bungalow, kids raced barefoot through the dining room, zooming past paper chains taped to the ceiling.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moroney, who sang covers, grabbed her guitar and riled up the crowd.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
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The woman, who is listed as a current or former girlfriend of Fleming’s, first petitioned for a court order against him in January 2025, alleging that Fleming had grabbed her by her scarf and used it to choke her, and threatened her for spreading rumors about him.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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And yet so much of the film community’s focus has been wrenched out of the past into an urgent present and uncertain future.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to a preliminary investigation, the crash occurred when the white Nissan sped south on Virginia Avenue.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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Streamed live on YouTube, the two and half hour ceremony was (blissfully) commercial free, which sped things up but meant guests didn’t have the usual opportunity to mix and mingle.—
Paul Chi,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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So far, six have been pulled to safety.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Sakamoto plans to retire after the Olympics, but will leave the sport in good hands with her teammate and new talent Nakai, who landed a triple axel that pulled her into first.—
Alice Park,
Time,
18 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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