1
as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tearing
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Missed the final 14 games last year after tearing his ACL at Tampa.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The microplastic beads that celebrities were splashing all over their bathroom floors in commercials advertising their benefits were actually tearing our faces up!
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Lightning sparked the fire now tearing through the historic town, according to Cal Fire.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
The systems were fundamentally broken, and no progress could be made without first tearing them down to the stakes and rebuilding.
—Greg Dolan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Unlike modern crocodiles, which lie in wait to grab and drown their pray, this beast possessed the kind of build and the dentition for tackling animals head-on and tearing through hide and flesh.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
Aiyuk had a slow start to the campaign before tearing his ACL in Week 7.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Homages to the Bethesda games’ slow-motion kills are aplenty, with gratuitous shots of bullets tearing through bodies and painting the walls red.
—Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Rodgers had a very forgettable two-year run as the Jets QB over the last two seasons, leading the team to a 5-12 record in 2024 after missing all of the 2023 season after tearing his Achilles in the season opener that year.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Missed the final 14 games last year after tearing his ACL at Tampa.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The microplastic beads that celebrities were splashing all over their bathroom floors in commercials advertising their benefits were actually tearing our faces up!
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Lightning sparked the fire now tearing through the historic town, according to Cal Fire.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
The systems were fundamentally broken, and no progress could be made without first tearing them down to the stakes and rebuilding.
—Greg Dolan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Unlike modern crocodiles, which lie in wait to grab and drown their pray, this beast possessed the kind of build and the dentition for tackling animals head-on and tearing through hide and flesh.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
Aiyuk had a slow start to the campaign before tearing his ACL in Week 7.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Homages to the Bethesda games’ slow-motion kills are aplenty, with gratuitous shots of bullets tearing through bodies and painting the walls red.
—Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing
Verb
-
Vaccaro accused Hill of throwing her to the ground, ripping her hair out, twisting body parts, spitting on her and shoving a marijuana cigarette in her face, according to the TMZ article.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Camp Fire, California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire, is a few hours off from igniting and ripping through the town of Paradise and its neighbors, but the stage is set.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Within seconds, officers in full riot gear surged forward in formation, yanking open the doors and pulling the passenger to safety.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
-
But some lawmakers say that argument is baseless and that yanking the grants has left the state less equipped to prevent tragedies like this week’s attack at Annunciation Catholic School.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Before the new regulations, says Annie Inglis, Marine Biology Presenter with Quark, the expedition crew would be hurrying to get guests in Zodiacs to try to get closer to a bear sighting like this.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After grabbing an early lead Friday evening, the Royals were unable to match their hosts’ prolific offense on Friday.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The owner squeezed her hands into the mix of kittens, moving the babies and grabbing the one that did not belong, which turned out to be a tiny mouse.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brown has a history of citations and arrests in North Carolina dating back to 2011, according to court records, from minor infractions like speeding to more serious crimes such as communicating threats, breaking and entering, assault, and felony larceny.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The film, which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, opens with a truck speeding off after having deposited the body of a teenage girl dressed in a school uniform on an isolated desert peak.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.—
Hisham Matar,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
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Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2024
Verb
-
Plus-size segment remains underserved by apparel market Mallorie Dunn, a professor of fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and owner of SmartGlamour, a clothing line that offers the smallest and largest sizes, worries about the apparel retail market rushing to conclusions.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Why are fans rushing to see this movie?—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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