variants
also rived
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
road pavement that had been riven by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle
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2
as in torn
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the bitter disappointment threatened to rive my heart in two
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Recent Examples of riven
But the pressures on Israel to rein in its survival instincts at a time when it is riven with deep political, religious, and maybe existential divisions are having little obvious traction.
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Nic Robertson, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
But even if Lebanon remains riven by sectarian divisions and vulnerable to foreign interlopers, the risks and rewards of Hezbollah’s setback — no matter how temporary — present a tantalizing opportunity for a political revival and perhaps real national unity.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
The Amos family has been riven by dissension for at least a year, with Shannon having accused her brother of failing to provide adequate health care for their elderly father, who died at 84.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024
Today, the Taliban is gaining ground, the Afghan army is suffering unsustainable losses, and the government in Kabul is corrupt and riven by ethnic divisions.
—Aaron B. O'Connell, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017
See all Example Sentences for riven 
Nic Robertson, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
But even if Lebanon remains riven by sectarian divisions and vulnerable to foreign interlopers, the risks and rewards of Hezbollah’s setback — no matter how temporary — present a tantalizing opportunity for a political revival and perhaps real national unity.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
The Amos family has been riven by dissension for at least a year, with Shannon having accused her brother of failing to provide adequate health care for their elderly father, who died at 84.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024
Today, the Taliban is gaining ground, the Afghan army is suffering unsustainable losses, and the government in Kabul is corrupt and riven by ethnic divisions.
—Aaron B. O'Connell, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2017
See all Example Sentences for riven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riven
Verb
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The United States Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday, minutes after the funding expired, which could have disrupted everything from law enforcement to national parks ahead of the busy Christmas travel season.Medha Singh and Purvi Agarwal, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
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Ankara’s strong support for Syrian rebels has disrupted the regional balance of power.Hamidreza Azizi, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On Sunday, an MRI confirmed Wagner had torn an ACL and will miss the rest of the season.Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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This could put accreditors and colleges in potentially challenging positions, torn between their commitment to academic independence and their survival.Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Someone’s face gets ripped right off, and another person gets a fork plunged into their eyeball.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
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Cyclone Chido Reports of widespread damage are emerging from the French territory of Mayotte after a 100-year cyclone ripped through the region Saturday.Alexandra Banner, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli.Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
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Now, the YouTuber has broken his silence — in a 21-minute video uploaded to his side channel with 272,000 subscribers that only spends around two minutes explaining his recent absence from the internet.Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Jannik Sinner and world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who split them two apiece in 2024.Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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The Vietnam War had arguably split the country more dramatically than any conflict since the Civil War.Ron Elving, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near riven
Cite this Entry
“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riven. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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