1
as in ripping
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 yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hurrying
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 tearing
Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Higbee was on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his back ACL and MCL last postseason.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024
Send it into a black hole, which will tidally disrupt the neutron star, tearing it apart.
—Big Think, 19 Dec. 2024
Diggs has dealt with injuries over the past few years, tearing his ACL last year.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
And the harder challenge is that cannabis is itself the tip of an even bigger cultural iceberg tearing through the country.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Last month, similar Santa Ana winds helped the Mountain Fire explode in size and send it tearing through neighborhoods, prompting evacuations and school closures.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
All Purdy did was take his the 49ers to consecutive NFC Championship Games, tearing a ligament in his elbow as a rookie and winning two come-from-behind playoff games before acquitting himself well in Super Bowl LVIII only to fall victim to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
Rizzi was seen on the sideline tearing into Hayball.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Homages to the Bethesda games’ slow-motion kills are aplenty, with gratuitous shots of bullets tearing through bodies and painting the walls red.
—Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Higbee was on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his back ACL and MCL last postseason.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024
Send it into a black hole, which will tidally disrupt the neutron star, tearing it apart.
—Big Think, 19 Dec. 2024
Diggs has dealt with injuries over the past few years, tearing his ACL last year.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
And the harder challenge is that cannabis is itself the tip of an even bigger cultural iceberg tearing through the country.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Last month, similar Santa Ana winds helped the Mountain Fire explode in size and send it tearing through neighborhoods, prompting evacuations and school closures.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
All Purdy did was take his the 49ers to consecutive NFC Championship Games, tearing a ligament in his elbow as a rookie and winning two come-from-behind playoff games before acquitting himself well in Super Bowl LVIII only to fall victim to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
Rizzi was seen on the sideline tearing into Hayball.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing
Verb
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The magazine said Gallagher provides vocals on the chorus, with Ryder taking on the verses, Starkey on drums, guitar, bass and keyboards and Bell ripping an extended guitar solo.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
8 Jan. 2025
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Late Tuesday night, social media was awash with dramatic images of the raging blaze, as well as the hilltop museum surrounded by flames ripping through its surrounding trees and vegetation.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Ravens believe in drafting corners every year, and the first-round selection of Nate Wiggins in 2024 won’t prevent them from grabbing another cornerback early.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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The White Sox, though, had other ideas, grabbing Smith with the first pick of the draft for $100,000.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.—
Hisham Matar,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
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Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2024
Adjective
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Attendees in The Hague have framed the defense spending pledge and snappy communique as a response to the threat of Russia, not just the biting condemnation of the U.S. president.—
Ellie Cook — reporting from The Hague,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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As always, Danan’s voice is hysterically funny, her characters’ exhibiting a wry and biting sense of humor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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As America celebrates its 249th anniversary and a declaration of independence from tyranny on July 4, Bolick's comments represent his most piercing and direct condemnation of actions taken by the country's highest political leaders.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
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And to eloquently share the piercing but ultimately inspiring tale of his family’s experience with the Special Olympics.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The Moose Mountain Falls indoor water park is a big draw, with a constant temperature of 86 degrees perfect for zipping down waterslides and floating on the lazy river.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA TODAY,
21 Dec. 2024
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But in the six years since the probe has been zipping through outer space and flying by the Sun?—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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So what’s driving the need for these changes?—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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By forcing his posts to the top of feeds, elevating like-minded voices, and driving critics off the platform, Musk revealed the raw power of ownership.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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By jumping to agentic, Amazon can make home assistants that are capable and conversational like ChatGPT but also have a framework for communicating and controlling external services, as Alexa and Siri can.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On Sunday, McIlroy blew up for a double bogey on the first hole before jumping out to a massive lead.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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