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
as in grabbed
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sped
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
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Recent Examples of torn
Bird seemed to be torn between Indiana and Indiana State, a small program that was playing in the hinterlands of Division I basketball, in danger of being banished to Division II, about to fire its head coach, and incapable of filling its new arena in Terre Haute.
—
Keith O'Brien, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2026
This, after playing through that ankle injury — and a broken finger, and torn rib cartilage — to win World Series MVP honors in 2024.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Photos released by the CHP show a dark-colored sedan on its roof with the engine block torn free and debris scattered across the southbound roadway as emergency vehicles blocked traffic.
—Darrell Smith
updated February 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Brower admitted he was torn by the decision.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
They’ve been married for 19 years, after all, and when Amanda calls the police and introduces authorities into the situation, the couple is suddenly torn asunder.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
You are torn through shattered car windows.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Remove torn, stained, or outdated sheets and towels, then separate out ones that are never used such as old guest linens.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Keith O'Brien, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2026
This, after playing through that ankle injury — and a broken finger, and torn rib cartilage — to win World Series MVP honors in 2024.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Photos released by the CHP show a dark-colored sedan on its roof with the engine block torn free and debris scattered across the southbound roadway as emergency vehicles blocked traffic.
—Darrell Smith
updated February 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Brower admitted he was torn by the decision.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
They’ve been married for 19 years, after all, and when Amanda calls the police and introduces authorities into the situation, the couple is suddenly torn asunder.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
You are torn through shattered car windows.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Remove torn, stained, or outdated sheets and towels, then separate out ones that are never used such as old guest linens.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn
Verb
-
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
-
The stock ripped higher from April 2025 through August 2025, gaining nearly 120% over that stretch.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Charges said Steward sped through a red light and hit another vehicle, killing its two occupants, 53-year-old Esther Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Reece.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Then Cornell sped off in Trotsky’s car, and Hansen returned to Trotsky.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump has since yanked his endorsement of Hurd and threatened to follow suit against any Republican who voted to repeal tariffs.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But in late January, a cadre of federal workers yanked placards from the site’s brick walls in response to a March 2025 executive order from the White House that shunned complication.—
Adam Harris,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Furnell’s team raced on the track at the Cortina Sliding Centre during the International Bobsleigh Federation’s World Cup in November and finished seventh out of 31 teams.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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Their lungs raced while their quads screamed.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some have been kidnapped and some, emotionally vulnerable kids especially, may have left home and then been snatched and killed.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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His eyes red and puffy, Schreiner said that two people had crept into his yard at night and snatched the pug.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In late 2023, an 11-year-old boy was killed in Springfield after a van driven by a Haitian immigrant collided with his school bus, igniting long-simmering tensions within the city over the Haitians’ growing numbers.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Lopez sped along Savannah streets, with the ICE agents in pursuit, until colliding with another car driven by a schoolteacher at a busy intersection.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He was pulled from the game with one out in his second inning after throwing 36 pitches, just 17 strikes.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
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The Bears trailed 1-0 in the final minute of regulation, but Rian Marquardt tied the contest with 56 ticks remaining after White Bear Lake pulled its goalie.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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