as in to rip
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the prophecy that the disaster would cause people to rend their garments in mourning
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Recent Examples of rend
More notable still, perhaps, is the fact that calling for the release of the Epstein files has seemed to cut across the myriad divisions rending the Democratic Party.
—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Guthrie’s willingness to take part in an interview with a visibly emotional Kotb was heart-rending.
—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
The emotional tribute paid homage to some of the most heart-rending high-profile deaths of the past year, including Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, and Rob Reiner, each of whom received their own dedicated homage.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
The sagas of Icelanders—plotty, laconic, often heart-rending—constitute one of the oldest literatures in any language still commonly spoken.
—
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rend
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Guthrie’s willingness to take part in an interview with a visibly emotional Kotb was heart-rending.
—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
The emotional tribute paid homage to some of the most heart-rending high-profile deaths of the past year, including Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, and Rob Reiner, each of whom received their own dedicated homage.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
The sagas of Icelanders—plotty, laconic, often heart-rending—constitute one of the oldest literatures in any language still commonly spoken.
—
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rend
Verb
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On June 29, workers were seen installing a red carpet on the venue's signature stairs, only to rip it up a short time later.
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Four people died, including a 12-year-old boy, and several others were injured after at least three tornadoes ripped through that corner of the state.
Verb
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Shakespeare’s haughty Roman war hero, revered on the battlefield yet reviled by hungry plebeians, becomes the flash point in a young democracy tearing itself apart over power and sacrifice.
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That tactic may situate this work within a lineage that includes Jacques Villeglé and Mimmo Rotella, artists who used swiped, torn ads during the postwar era.
Cite this Entry
“Rend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rend. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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