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

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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
His bachelor pad feels ripped straight from /r/malelivingspace, with little more than a keyboard, a mattress, and a couple of dumbbells adorning the ground. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025 Bank of America was also one of several banks ripped by Republicans for limiting their ties to firearm companies. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
On the beach: the waves, rips, and tides are powerful. —Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Dec. 2024 Along with the midriff-baring pants, the medium-wash blue bootcut jeans featured two large rips on both thighs that met two large holes at the knee. —Charna Flam, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rip 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip
  1. tear
  2. slit
  3. fly
  4. yank
  5. slice
  6. hurry
  7. grab
  8. slash
Verb
  • All of Adams’ Democratic primary challengers have torn into him for his Trump meeting, questioning what good could come from it for New York.
    — Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Aiyuk started slowly with no training camp, and tore his ACL in Week 7 having caught 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns.
    — Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Its striking foliage has holes and slits in it, sort of like slices of Swiss cheese does, hence the plant’s nickname.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Sensing no use for them, Red Feather’s warriors slit their throats — except for the throat of the one with the steely gaze and defiant words to match: Abish.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of slit
Verb
  • Finally, the president signed a proclamation order that today and on all future inauguration days, flags will fly at full-staff.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Foster, fascinated by machines—and perhaps most appreciative of other people when they’re seen from an L. S. Lowry-like distance—had taken to flying gliders, and then planes.
    — Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Definition of fly
Verb
  • As things escalated, the attacker yanked out a machete intending to attack his rival’s dog — but the victim stepped in to protect his pooch, cops said.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
  • However, Participant Media requested the festival yank the film from its lineup after learning that director Joseph submitted a new, secret cut to Sundance and other global fest’s without the media company’s knowledge.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Even when the Clippers’ 26-point lead in the third quarter was sliced to 15 by the end of the quarter and to 11 early in the fourth, Leonard sat on the bench.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Instead of stopping with the wall, Martin and his representatives said, his contractor kept slicing, also taking the top off that previously intact 46-foot length of the bluff next to it.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of slice
Verb
  • As the fire roared down a hillside toward their Altadena home, Vanessa Prata and her parents hurried to pack their car.
    — Gene Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Jan. 2025
  • An aggressive front will hurry Allen in the hopes of avoiding a shootout.
    — The Athletic, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of hurry
Verb
  • Junior forward Lawrence Sallis also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Royals.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The witness jumped in to assist and grab the knife, cutting himself in the process.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Boeing executives have already disclosed plans to slash 17,000 jobs and cut costs everywhere from company travel to corporate events.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Climate activists who were targeted by hackers say the plot that U.S. officials have been trying to unravel was aimed at disrupting their efforts to fight climate change by pushing governments and society to slash the use of fossil fuels like oil and coal.
    — Michael Copley, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of slash

Phrases Containing rip

Thesaurus Entries Near rip

riots

rip

ripe

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Cite this Entry

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rip

Nglish: Translation of rip for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of rip for Arabic Speakers

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