1
as in to rob
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an investigation revealed that a whole slew of suppliers had been ripping off the defense department
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 rip-off
Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
With an appeal filed this week, Warner Bros TV is making another incision to stop the legal exhumation of The Pitt, and whether or not claims the Noah Wyle-starring Emmy-winning medical drama is a rip-off of ER will go to trial.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Noun
The enormity of the Minneapolis welfare rip-off is sparking a nationwide rebellion against welfare criminals and the politicians who tolerate them.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
With an appeal filed this week, Warner Bros TV is making another incision to stop the legal exhumation of The Pitt, and whether or not claims the Noah Wyle-starring Emmy-winning medical drama is a rip-off of ER will go to trial.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Konecny ripped off his helmet and dropped his gloves and beckoned Rust to fight him.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rip-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-off
Noun
-
Jones has been charged with property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, police said.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
According to Village East co-op board vice president, Rachel, 57, a bookkeeper who asked to be identified by first name only, many building residents want a video intercom to prevent package theft and increase security.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The next year, he was arrested again for robbing and assaulting a prostitute.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Police in San Francisco said a drone unit helped lead to the arrest of two people suspected of robbing a victim of their gold chain earlier this week.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Someone on South Bascom Avenue reported a check that had previously been stolen from the mail at her apartment complex led to her bank account information being stolen and a $500 charge being made.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
Police said the group stole items from the store before driving away in the SUV.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Fred, their oldest surviving child, was suspended from Princeton for cheating, then caught embezzling from his Seattle employer to feed, Church suspected, a gambling habit.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Venezuela contends the Americans and Europeans conspired to cheat their country out of the land.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Imagine swiping a card at a corner station, unlocking a bicycle, riding to the store or your office or the park or the beach and locking the bike at another station.—
Harry Bubbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Because the brand studied undertones to create a collection that would be true to the tube when Black and Brown people swiped it on.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The global economy and consumers everywhere Consumers across the world are already getting squeezed by the impacts of the war.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
In a behind-the-scenes shot by Alex Bramall, Princess Charlotte is seen sitting in front of Eugenie, laughing so hard her eyes are squeezed shut.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The Orion capsule will be returned to NASA's Kennedy Space Center for additional study following the mission — but before it was plucked from the ocean, the divers managed to capture images of the capsule and its heat shield underwater.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Vikings also plucked Ryan Van Demark as a restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Caminero led off with a walk, then hustled to third when Aranda followed with a single.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
On the ensuing possession after Ausar Thompson hustled for an offensive rebound, Cunningham made a step-back, 16-foot jumper to help seal it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-off. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
