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
The development is the latest as Syria's new leaders have struggled since toppling former President Bashar Assad in December 2024 to assert their full authority over the country torn by nearly 14 years of civil war.
—
Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
She is torn between being a good mother and a wife.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
There's just a pervasive sense of loss, of lives torn asunder for no particular reason, and a cast highly adept at delivering these punches.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
At the East Haven Tavern, the regulars were torn.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The administration has long been torn between its nationalist impulses and its alliance with America’s biggest businesses.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In the film’s most moving scene, Palestinian anesthesiologist Abd describes being torn between his responsibilities to his patients and his care for his own children.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Many of the trees that survived were left with bent and twisted trunks, and scars where bark was torn off.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Jan. 2026
The 89-minute running time doesn’t allow much exposition, and in fact the opening sequence shows a veterinarian coming to treat a sickly Ben before having his face viciously torn off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
She is torn between being a good mother and a wife.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
There's just a pervasive sense of loss, of lives torn asunder for no particular reason, and a cast highly adept at delivering these punches.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
At the East Haven Tavern, the regulars were torn.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The administration has long been torn between its nationalist impulses and its alliance with America’s biggest businesses.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In the film’s most moving scene, Palestinian anesthesiologist Abd describes being torn between his responsibilities to his patients and his care for his own children.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Many of the trees that survived were left with bent and twisted trunks, and scars where bark was torn off.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Jan. 2026
The 89-minute running time doesn’t allow much exposition, and in fact the opening sequence shows a veterinarian coming to treat a sickly Ben before having his face viciously torn off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn
Verb
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Materials consistent with homemade explosives and fireworks were found at the site of an explosion and fire that ripped through an apartment building in Los Angeles County, killing a teenager, a report said.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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People are getting ripped from their cars!—
Angela Pelster,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Baer grabbed the arms of his chair and began to stand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
It was rapidly removed, but an image of the listing was grabbed ahead of that.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chinese manufacturing sector sped up, report finds China’s manufacturing sector picked up speed in January, a private-sector survey showed Monday, though the data still points to structural challenges.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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On that occasion, Torres latched on to a pass from Steven Gerrard, sped away from defender Tal Ben Haim and then opened up his body to find the far corner.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alcaraz yanked a hard inside-in forehand that ticked the top of the net, before stopping almost dead and bouncing twice on Djokovic’s side.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Thom yanked on his jeans, gave me one last sharp look and slammed the door.—
Nick Dothée,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thursday evening, the Senate agreed to fund DHS for just two weeks as lawmakers raced to pass a large spending package to avoid a partial shutdown.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Blue Devils raced to a 15-5 lead while the Canes missed eight of their first nine shots.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a moving tribute on Facebook, Crispin mourned the future that was snatched away from them.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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One TikToker even took time to comment and say the out-of-shape owl had snatched the funniest TikTok title.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The deaths of Pretti and Renee Good have transformed the national conversation on immigration enforcement and appear to have driven a tone shift from the White House in recent days.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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But today’s challenge is distinct — driven by unprecedented actions being taken by the federal government, often in direct conflict with local governments.—
Daniel Anello,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The officers did not draw their guns until Chakraborty pulled the knife, NYPD officials said.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Hundreds of thousands canceled their subscriptions after Bezos pulled a Kamala Harris endorsement from the opinion section in 2024, according to CJR.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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