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 One month after a fire tore through the Helix Apartments in St Louis Park, Minnesota, neighbors are still stepping in to help. — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Second-round pick Chase Bisontis, who was in contention for the starting right guard position, tore the MCL in his left knee. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 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 The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Devey tore his right pectoral muscle in the first half, a pretty significant injury for a right-handed center. — Pj Green august 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 Parts of Cook and Will counties were hit by another round of dangerous weather Wednesday, just a day after two tornadoes tore through Chicago’s southern suburbs. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 Spooked, General Dynamics workers tore out hardware to cut off remote access to the machines, two former workers said. — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tore

Verb

In the fifth, Bregman ripped a sweeper from Jake Bird into the visitors' bullpen in left for a three-run shot to cap the Cubs' four-run inning.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Winds ripped gutters from cottages where staff members live during the school year and tore the face from a clock tower that has stood at the school since its founding more than a century ago.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

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
Lucas Erceg was picked to close but was yanked for Steven Cruz after loading the bases with no outs in 14 pitches.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of yanked

Verb

And Ian Happ raced around from first to score on the throwing error, giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Tara Rudd drove toward Angel City’s back line and threaded a pass through to Rodman, who raced downfield and curled a shot just over goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of raced

Verb

Reyes allegedly grabbed her by the hair and started to punch her multiple times.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Soon after, the Macklowe Gallery owners sold that place and grabbed a rental across from Lincoln Center, spending their time traveling, working, and enjoying a wonderfully free, untethered life.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

Between 2008 and 2014, advances in an early branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning, which allows computers to learn and adapt, sped up the experimental process at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
As the plane sped down the runway, air traffic controllers and a witness on the ground noticed sparks coming from near its wheels.

— Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sped

Verb

Vaquer took out Rodriguez and Perez in the process before the trio scurried away.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
While on camera in Los Angeles' Sherman Oaks neighborhood during a live broadcast, a cockroach scurried across Menitoff's blouse and chest before flying away.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 July 2026