Thesaurus results for REND

Q: How is the word 'rend' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rend are cleave , rip , rive , split , and tear . While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering. // an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Q: When can 'cleave' be used instead of 'rend'?

While the synonyms cleave and rend are close in meaning, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow. // a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

Q: When might 'rip' be a better fit than 'rend'?

Although the words rip and rend have much in common, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint. // ripped the shirt on a nail

Q: Where would 'rive' be a reasonable alternative to 'rend'?

The words rive and rend can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use. // a political party riven by conflict

Q: In what contexts can 'split' take the place of 'rend'?

The synonyms split and rend are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Q: When is 'tear' a more appropriate choice than 'rend'?

In some situations, the words tear and rend are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. // tear up the letter

rend

verb

ˈrend

Definition of rend next

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word rend different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rend are cleave, rip, rive, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When can cleave be used instead of rend?

While the synonyms cleave and rend are close in meaning, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When might rip be a better fit than rend?

Although the words rip and rend have much in common, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

Where would rive be a reasonable alternative to rend?

The words rive and rend can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can split take the place of rend?

The synonyms split and rend are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is tear a more appropriate choice than rend?

In some situations, the words tear and rend 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 rend Dallas keeps bringing up last year’s six-game win over Colorado in an apparent effort to buck up themselves and their despondent fans, who are rending their garments over a meaningless seven-game losing streak to end the season. —

Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025 In lesser hands, this might be one of those theatrical pieces that offers a nice excuse for actors to rend garments and gnash teeth onscreen — the sort of cinéma du Off-Broadway favored by microbudget indie directors and arthouse die-hards. —

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2024 The cuts will rend apart the truss section and send the pieces plunging into the river, unpinning the Dali. —

Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2024 Meanwhile, a deafening blast of noise keeps rending the air and forcing everyone to fold up like tulips at sunset. —

Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for rend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rend

Verb

Of the 605 sites where a multiagency state and federal task force ripped out illicit cannabis plants, roughly 9% were on public lands — up from an average of 3% to 4%.

— Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
The footage also shows the person holding a flashlight in their mouth and trying to cover the camera with a gloved hand and part of a plant ripped from the yard.

— Hallie Golden, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of rip

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renascences

rend

render

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“Rend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rend. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 12 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of rend

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