1
as in tearing
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
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2
as in slicing
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rushing
to proceed or move quickly
the car went ripping down the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
rip a sheet off the pad of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ripping
One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Workers began ripping out the 9-year-old artificial turf at Soldier Field.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Revere detective pulled at King from the driver’s side, ripping King’s jersey shirt in the process, as the trooper pushed at him from the passenger side, the report states.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The thing is an almost-four-hour-long continuous explosion — actors dancing, grappling, and hurling furniture; the director present onstage ripping pieces out of the set; paint and blood and flowers and feathers everywhere.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Yet Grace is the one who wakes up in space, and this story emerges nonlinearly, narrative flashbacks like bursts of memory ripping through his brain, discombobulated after a long intergalactic coma.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Garcia said the shocking allegations became public at a time when many Mexican Americans are seeing immigration arrests ripping families apart, people afraid to leave their homes, immigrants in prolonged detention and some dying in immigration custody.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Datebook Picks The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence.
—Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
Then, Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu didn’t miss a stitch of McLean’s middle-away fastball in the top of the fifth, ripping it over the center field wall.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Workers began ripping out the 9-year-old artificial turf at Soldier Field.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Revere detective pulled at King from the driver’s side, ripping King’s jersey shirt in the process, as the trooper pushed at him from the passenger side, the report states.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The thing is an almost-four-hour-long continuous explosion — actors dancing, grappling, and hurling furniture; the director present onstage ripping pieces out of the set; paint and blood and flowers and feathers everywhere.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Yet Grace is the one who wakes up in space, and this story emerges nonlinearly, narrative flashbacks like bursts of memory ripping through his brain, discombobulated after a long intergalactic coma.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Garcia said the shocking allegations became public at a time when many Mexican Americans are seeing immigration arrests ripping families apart, people afraid to leave their homes, immigrants in prolonged detention and some dying in immigration custody.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Datebook Picks The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence.
—Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
Then, Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu didn’t miss a stitch of McLean’s middle-away fastball in the top of the fifth, ripping it over the center field wall.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping
Verb
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LeVota announced Wednesday that Jackson County will establish a task force to begin the process of deciding what to do with the current sports complex, which could involve tearing one or both stadiums down to build something entirely new.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
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Even momfluencers who adhere to pristine ideals of motherhood have people tearing them apart for the littlest things.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of the key problems is that the corporate profits tax has been weak, slicing projections by $75 million.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
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Brazilian tambaqui is a beefy freshwater fish that just happens to have a physique perfect for slicing into meaty, pork-like ribs.—
J.m. Hirsch,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Achane, who had 1,838 yards from scrimmage last season (1,350 yards rushing, 488 yards receiving) falls forward, not backward, at the end of plays despite weighing 191 pounds.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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And the team really lacks true playmakers outside of tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, who showed promise as a rookie rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Keep the movement coming from your ribs, rotating, not by yanking your neck.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
1 Apr. 2026
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In other words, eliminating them from the animal kingdom would be like yanking an entire tier of Jenga blocks out of the middle of the tower.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The prosecutor said Tran tried to take his own life by slitting a wrist, cutting his neck and poking a blade into his stomach.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
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When Rochelle Luna, 18, arrived at the house hours later, Djerf bound, gagged and raped her before stabbing her and slitting her throat, court records said.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fort Collins now has drones flying the city nearly every day as a resource to the police, fire and utilities departments.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Meteor showers such as the Lyrids can be tracked yearly, because the debris flying through the night sky in fiery streaks is coming from the same comet.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kaufman-Renn hit his first seven shots — going 6-for-6 and grabbing five rebounds in the first half — on the way to 20 points.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Agents targeted grocery stores, churches, and construction sites, smashing car windows and pulling people from vehicles or grabbing them at a hardware store parking lot.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Attributing the budget-slashing move to an overall decrease in enrollment caused by fluctuating demographics, restrictions on international students and skyrocketing tuition costs, the New School is becoming part of a trend across higher education.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
27 Mar. 2026
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Warsh has committed to slashing the Fed's balance sheet.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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