1
as in to rob
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that a whole slew of suppliers had been ripping off the defense department
Synonyms & Similar Words
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-off
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Democrats came across in the election as defending the status quo—talking sometimes about insurance rip-offs —but fining or imprisoning no one.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The greed machine has already taken over the health care and banking industries and that success has wetted their appetites to rip off even more Americans.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rip-off 
Noun
What Is ‘Nosferatu’? Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a 1922 horror classic that was conceived as a rip-off of Dracula, after the film’s producers failed to get the rights to the famous Bram Stoker novel.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Democrats came across in the election as defending the status quo—talking sometimes about insurance rip-offs —but fining or imprisoning no one.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
Josh Jacobs had perhaps his finest run as a Packer, ripping off a 31-yard run on the final play of the third quarter.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
The greed machine has already taken over the health care and banking industries and that success has wetted their appetites to rip off even more Americans.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
Anyone with information about the collision and theft may call traffic investigators at 510-777-8570 or Criminal Investigation Division investigators at 510-238-3326.—
Harry Harris,
The Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The first major legislation taken up by the new Congress was the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of migrants without legal status charged with burglary, theft and shoplifting.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Most people come to Florida to enjoy balmy breezes and stories about people robbing 7-Eleven’s with an alligator.—
Scott Maxwell,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2025
-
And fellow Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr., who was inducted in 2016, was robbed of the distinction by three votes.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Petey the Cat abandons Lil Petey on the street, and Grampa Petey is condescending and steals from his son.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Mary Lou Lord told me about a particularly bad day in the London Tube, where a creepy guy with one arm peed in her guitar case, then stole her money—so that would be a bad day for her.—
Cary Baker,
SPIN,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a scene where the duo is trying to get their rent money back from Alyssa’s conniving and cheating boyfriend, which perfectly encapsulates the blend of wit and physical comedy that makes the film so memorable.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2025
-
West Virginia was also willing to cheat off of Keshon Gilbert.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Hao orders them to swipe right on every profile on dating apps, and even encourages approaching random women en masse in shopping centers.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Join 9 others in the comments View Comments Shoplifters often swipe smaller items with higher price tags.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Turn the pot on its side and loosen the root ball from the pot's walls by squeezing or tapping the side of the pot a little.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Use a fire extinguisher by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the lever slowly and sweeping the nozzle side to side For a grease fire, try to cover the flames with a lid or pan to snuff them out.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
More than 750 northern tidewater gobies were plucked from a lagoon ravaged by the Palisades fire and transferred to aquariums.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
For Hodge, having to squat naked and pluck out her eye was nothing compared with what would follow.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
With a zero-to-60 time below 4 seconds, a quarter-mile time around 12 seconds, and a 155 mph top speed, the coupe clearly hustles.—
Karl Brauer,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
-
In this raucous odyssey a wanton minx quests hard across a dreamy landscape of smut, filth and psychics, hustling to lift a curse that has been f*cking her sh*t up.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rip-off
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share