1
: an act or instance of stealing : theft
also
: a financial exploitation
2
: a usually cheap exploitive imitation
ripped off; ripping off; rips off
2
: to copy or imitate blatantly or unscrupulously
3
: to perform, achieve, or score quickly or easily
ripped off 10 straight points
Synonyms
Examples of rip-off in a Sentence
Noun
a daring burglary of the art museum that resulted in one of the greatest rip-offs in history
Verb
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 17 June 2024
There would also be inspired rip-offs like 2017’s Atomic Blonde (from uncredited Wick co-director David Leitch) and 2021’s Nobody, in which Bob Odenkirk, of all people, commits many acts of Wick-like ultraviolence.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 June 2024
Listen to this article Connecticut residents have been ripped off by more than $600 million over three years through property crimes, according to the most recent crime statistics available from the FBI.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for rip-off 
Noun
Booksmart Some viewers dismissed Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut as a Gen-Z Superbad rip-off, and sure, there are plenty of similarities, including the one-long-day-leading-up-to-a-party structure (not to mention the casting of Beanie Feldstein, Jonah Hill’s sister).
—Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 17 June 2024
There would also be inspired rip-offs like 2017’s Atomic Blonde (from uncredited Wick co-director David Leitch) and 2021’s Nobody, in which Bob Odenkirk, of all people, commits many acts of Wick-like ultraviolence.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
The figure tussled with the men, quickly ripping off the suit and unveiling a man decked out in a camouflage outfit.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 June 2024
Listen to this article Connecticut residents have been ripped off by more than $600 million over three years through property crimes, according to the most recent crime statistics available from the FBI.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for rip-off
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rip-off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rip-off
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip-off. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share