1
as in to rob
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that a whole slew of suppliers had been ripping off the defense department
Synonyms & Similar Words
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-off
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Democrats came across in the election as defending the status quo—talking sometimes about insurance rip-offs —but fining or imprisoning no one.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The greed machine has already taken over the health care and banking industries and that success has wetted their appetites to rip off even more Americans.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rip-off 
Noun
What Is ‘Nosferatu’? Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a 1922 horror classic that was conceived as a rip-off of Dracula, after the film’s producers failed to get the rights to the famous Bram Stoker novel.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Democrats came across in the election as defending the status quo—talking sometimes about insurance rip-offs —but fining or imprisoning no one.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
Josh Jacobs had perhaps his finest run as a Packer, ripping off a 31-yard run on the final play of the third quarter.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The greed machine has already taken over the health care and banking industries and that success has wetted their appetites to rip off even more Americans.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
All individuals inside the vehicle were found in possession of multiple key fobs, indicating a clear intention to commit vehicle theft.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Reuters said China coerced foreign businesses to share sensitive technology with Chinese firms, all while committing intellectual property theft.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Most people come to Florida to enjoy balmy breezes and stories about people robbing 7-Eleven’s with an alligator.—
Scott Maxwell,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2025
-
And fellow Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr., who was inducted in 2016, was robbed of the distinction by three votes.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The pursuit of Richard started on Interstate 40 that morning, and the bus was stolen from Little Rock the night before, the release states.—
Grant Lancaster,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Gillespie stole the ball from Berry, but Reese promptly gave the ball away with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a scene where the duo is trying to get their rent money back from Alyssa’s conniving and cheating boyfriend, which perfectly encapsulates the blend of wit and physical comedy that makes the film so memorable.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2025
-
West Virginia was also willing to cheat off of Keshon Gilbert.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Every time a customer swipes a card, a complex web of fees is triggered.—
Robert Day,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Winokur struck out a lot and didn’t walk much, but also smacked 14 homers and swiped 23 bases in 94 games while facing pitchers older than him in 97 percent of his plate appearances.—
Aaron Gleeman,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Jair Bolsonaro’s Stay-Out-of-Jail Card: The former Brazilian president, squeezed by criminal investigations, is looking to Trump, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to shift his nation’s politics — and maybe keep him a free man.—
Ruth Maclean,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Use a fire extinguisher by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the lever slowly and sweeping the nozzle side to side For a grease fire, try to cover the flames with a lid or pan to snuff them out.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The verses are animated but pretty ordinary; the main moment here is the chorus, which feels plucked straight from the tall tee era.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Picture red tuna fish caught that morning cooked in a subtle mix of local spices and topped over fresh linguine or meatier cuts of fish served like steak with fresh vegetables plucked from nearby farms.—
Rooksana Hossenally,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Their dynamic is quickly established in the opening moments, which find Dreux hustling at an outpost of Norm’s diner — an LA staple — schmoozing with every customer, charming the old ladies and the still-drunk gals.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
15 Jan. 2025
-
The group was hustling to have her house livable by the time the baby comes.—
Nora O’Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rip-off
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share