rip apart
phrasal verb
ripped apart; ripping apart; rips apart
1
: to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
The child ripped the toy apart.
Strong winds had ripped apart many of the little beach bungalows.
—often used figurativelya tragedy/scandal that almost ripped the family apart
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
Critics ripped the author's latest novel apart.
an article that rips apart the mayor's plan
Examples of rip apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An Overland Park church’s message of inclusivity and love towards members of the LGBTQ+ community in the form of an outdoor banner has been repeatedly torn down, ripped apart and stolen from its property for years, a church leader says.
—
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Communities are ripped apart, families are trapped in a downward doom spiral, and a certain encounter between an infected mother and her son proves that nothing left is sacred.
—Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Footage from the city shows many multistory buildings completely flattened and others ripped apart by blasts.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
Berhalter set Chicago up to sit deep and then hit on the counter and the approach worked superbly in the first half with Miami enjoying plenty of the ball outside the Fire box but then ripped apart far too easily by swift breaks.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Communities are ripped apart, families are trapped in a downward doom spiral, and a certain encounter between an infected mother and her son proves that nothing left is sacred.
—Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Footage from the city shows many multistory buildings completely flattened and others ripped apart by blasts.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
Berhalter set Chicago up to sit deep and then hit on the counter and the approach worked superbly in the first half with Miami enjoying plenty of the ball outside the Fire box but then ripped apart far too easily by swift breaks.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rip apart
Cite this Entry
“Rip apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip%20apart. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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