ripper

noun

rip·​per ˈri-pər How to pronounce ripper (audio)
Synonyms of rippernext
1
: one that rips
especially : a machine used to break up solid material (such as rock or ore)
2
: an excellent example or instance of its kind

Examples of ripper in a Sentence

the comedian's last routine was a real ripper, leaving the audience in those proverbial stitches
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Wuthering Heights has the tunnel-vision horniness and girlish aesthetic sensibility of a high-school freshman who’s been assigned to read Brontë in class while tearing through a pile of explicit bodice-rippers under the covers at home. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026 Sometimes the last thing a bodice-ripper needs is a reminder that the characters onscreen think leeching is a helpful medical treatment or that disagreements can only be handled with dueling pistols. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026 Simply remove them with a seam ripper and sew them in their new home. Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026 They were accompanied by vocal virtuosos Lucius and blues-rock rippers Judith Hill and Eric Krasno, each fixtures in the local music community trying to rebuild itself in the wake of the Eaton fire. Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripper

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ripper was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ripper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripper. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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