as in tearing
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 rending
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
There’s also a poem that Anders gave Winslet for Mother’s Day years ago, and which plays a pivotal role in Goodbye June’s heart-rending climax.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
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
There’s also a poem that Anders gave Winslet for Mother’s Day years ago, and which plays a pivotal role in Goodbye June’s heart-rending climax.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rending
Verb
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Katie Lou Samuelson, Collier’s UConn classmate, missed the 2025 season after tearing her ACL during training camp with the Seattle Storm.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
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One of the state’s most infamous tornadoes, this massive F4 touched down near Holliday before tearing into Wichita Falls.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Webb delivered the big blow with runners on second and third and no outs in the seventh, ripping a two-run double to the gap in left-center to give the Celtics the lead.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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Stocks have been ripping higher thanks to a revival in enthusiasm around artificial intelligence.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rending. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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