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

The true culprit, a rambunctious zebra, tears through the screen and plunges a normal suburban home into tumult with the help of some other animals and a stash of fireworks. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025

My mother-in-law had an expression of open-mouthed awe; her husband, for his part, seemed to be fighting back tears. —Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025

Verb

More than 100 structures were destroyed in McNairy County, Tenn., where a tornado tore through the town of Selmer with winds estimated up to 160 mph, local emergency management officials said. —Bruce Schreiner and Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025

More than 100 structures were destroyed in Tennessee's McNairy County, where a tornado tore through the town of Selmer with winds estimated up to 160 mph, local emergency management officials said. —Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing tear

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