Synonyms of tear

tear 1 of 3

noun

ˈter 

as in slit

a long deep cut

repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slit
• scratch
• rip
• slash
• fracture
• injury
• gash
• laceration
• incision
• rent
• wound
• scrape
• abrasion
• rupture
• crack
• score
• snag

tear

2 of 3

verb (1)

ˈter 

1

as in to rip

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it

angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rip
• rend
• shred
• ribbon
• break
• split
• rive
• cut
• tatter
• rupture
• cleave
• slash
• lacerate
• dissect
• incise
• butcher
• gash
• dismember
• mangle
• hack

2

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rip
• yank
• grab
• pull
• snatch
• wrench
• wrest
• pry
• cut (off)
• sever
• extract
• seize
• snap (up)
• force
• uproot
• amputate
• lop (off)
• jerk
• prize
• nab
• nip
• dissever
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattach

3

as in to speed

to proceed or move quickly

she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

Synonyms & Similar Words

• speed
• scurry
• race
• hurry
• fly
• rush
• drive
• travel
• trot
• chase
• zip
• blow
• rip
• jump
• run
• scoot
• buzz
• dart
• blast
• scuttle
• step
• dash
• bolt
• shoot
• hurl
• zoom
• jog
• breeze
• blaze
• motor
• bowl
• crack (on)
• ram
• rustle
• hasten
• jet
• whirl
• hustle
• bundle
• rocket
• course
• belt
• pelt
• career
• hie
• hurtle
• barrel
• hare
• beat it
• hump
• whisk
• step on it
• nip
• bustle
• get a move on
• careen
• bomb
• highball
• gallop
• make tracks
• shake a leg
• cannonball
• streak
• hotfoot (it)
• flit
• scamper
• accelerate
• beetle
• stampede
• sprint
• step out
• quicken
• overtake
• whiz
• scuffle
• outrun
• scud
• outstrip
• outpace
• catch up
• whizz
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• linger
• poke
• lag
• tarry
• stroll
• loiter
• dawdle
• shuffle
• saunter
• amble
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• decelerate
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

tear (out)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to pull

to draw out by force or with effort

you'll never tear that secret out of me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pull
• pry
• extract
• yank
• pluck
• take (out)
• root (out)
• remove
• uproot
• prize
• wring
• corkscrew
• withdraw
• mine
• wrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insert
• install
• instill
• implant
• stuff
• jam
• ram
• wedge
• cram

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tear

Noun

As the young man became increasingly worked up to the point of tears, his dad offered to take him to Taco Bell to talk things over, since his son had promised to be honest about the situation. —Christian Dashiell, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025

Blackburn is 6-foot-2, weighs 170 pounds, and was last seen wearing blue jeans with tears in the knees, a yellow T-shirt and a black, zippered hooded sweatshirt. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Verb

Crowds are often torn between going to North Carolina for some fun at the Outer Banks or heading south to Myrtle Beach and the attractions along its 60 miles of coastline. —Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025

Further east, when Arcadia joined the sphere of concern as the fire erratically tore through the San Gabriel foothills, the city’s fire chief successfully advocated for unified commanders to issue more widespread evacuations than initially proposed. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing tear

• tear (out)
• tear down
• tear into
• tear one's hair
• wear and tear