RIP Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'rip' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave , rend , rive , split , and tear . While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint. // ripped the shirt on a nail

Q: When might 'cleave' be a better fit than 'rip'?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow. // a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

Q: When can 'rend' be used instead of 'rip'?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering. // an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Q: When could 'rive' be used to replace 'rip'?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use. // a political party riven by conflict

Q: In what contexts can 'split' take the place of 'rip'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip , split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers. // split logs for firewood

Q: Where would 'tear' be a reasonable alternative to 'rip'?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. // tear up the letter

rip 1 of 3

verb

ˈrip

Definition of rip next

as in to tear

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to slit

to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to fly

to proceed or move quickly the car went ripping down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling rip a sheet off the pad of paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattach

rip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in tear

a long deep cut the hoe left rips in the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

rip

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in pervert

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saint

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rip different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave, rend, rive, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When might cleave be a better fit than rip?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of rip?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When could rive be used to replace rip?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can split take the place of rip?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip, split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

Where would tear be a reasonable alternative to rip?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

Examples 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 rip

Verb

Samaritan's Purse, a Christian disaster relief and evangelism organization, has served its home state of North Carolina since Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeast in late September. —

Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 2 Nov. 2024 The fans tried to rip the ball out of his hands, and ended up successfully doing it. —

Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

After our many hikes, the shoes have no signs of rips, tears, or fraying. —

Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2024 Western snap-up shirts were cut into vests and relaxed jeans featured tonal patchwork, dirty tints and rips. —

Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rip

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip

Verb

At the 2013 World Championships, Vonn tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee and sustained a fracture in her right leg after a crash during the super-G. Later that year, she re-injured her ACL while training, and ultimately did not participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
In back, a pipe is leaking, damaged when the wall supporting a heater was torn out.

Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

Definition of tear

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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Last Updated: 15 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of rip

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

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Thesaurus Entries Near rip

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