rip 1 of 3

verb

ˈrip How to pronounce rip (audio)
Definition of ripnext
1
as in to tear
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 to slit
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife

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3
as in to fly
to proceed or move quickly the car went ripping down the road

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling rip a sheet off the pad of paper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in tear
a long deep cut the hoe left rips in the lawn

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rip

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rip different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave, rend, rive, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When might cleave be a better fit than rip?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of rip?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When could rive be used to replace rip?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can split take the place of rip?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip, split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

Where would tear be a reasonable alternative to rip?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

Example 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
Verb
The fire that began early Monday afternoon has ripped through more than 78 square miles across lightly populated areas in two counties in north central Texas. — John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The drones rip through the hallways scanning for a threat before disorienting a suspect using flashing lights and subduing them using pepper balls or by ramming into their body, the company says. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
The last movie had crazy stuff going on with the multiverse, multiple Spider-Men, and rips in the space-time continuum. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Bag tags in particular may sustain rips and spills and are easy to replace on the cheap—there’s no need to hold onto any that aren’t in good condition, Lubega notes. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
  1. tear
  2. slit
  3. fly
  4. yank
  5. pervert
  6. slice
  7. hurry
  8. grab
Verb
  • Braun tore ligaments in his left ankle last November and wasn’t quite the same after that.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Many communities like Gary have been in the dark for almost two weeks since the devastating derecho tore through.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Instead Justine shows up to slit his throat and take the baby from him, leaving him for dead; the child winds up disappearing with Holtz into a hell dimension.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In 2014 and 2017, there were very violent protests; people were burned alive, motorcyclists had their throats slit, health centers were set on fire, schools were set on fire.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026
Definition of slit
Verb
  • At his best, Fries flies off the ball with force and aggression.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Crews were not able to fly over the fire for several days due to smoke and visibility concerns, but were able to map it Saturday at 24,839 acres, Beyer said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As the man was unconscious, Slawson was accused of yanking the suspect out of the police vehicle, causing the man to hit and split his head on the concrete, the press release stated.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of yank
Noun
  • This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of pervert
Verb
  • The Himalayan landmass, where last week’s deadly flooding in Nepal and China took place, rises from shifting fault lines and is sliced by mighty rivers that are fed by glaciers.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Highland senior defensive end Jace Harris sliced into the backfield to make a tackle for a loss during the first series against visiting Whiting on Friday.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slice
Verb
  • Jeremiah Martin had a quarterback hurry on third down, forcing a throwaway.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The other officers hurried to the second scene as Hernandez tackled a fleeing Edgar to the ground.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurry
Verb
  • Mishka Wilonski had just grabbed pizza from a nearby shop and was walking outside with a friend when the crash happened.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Michael grabbed him, rushed out of the house, and blew through several red lights on the way to the hospital.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab

Phrases Containing rip

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rip
ripe
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Cite this Entry

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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