1
as in robbing
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stealing
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 cheating
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
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Recent Examples of ripping off
Instead of ripping off his shirt, or wildly gesticulating, McTominay ran to the edge of the pitch with his hands facing down and his lips pursed.
—
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Videos shared on social media showed some fans clashing with police officers, and other videos captured apparent Knicks fans attacking San Antonio fans on the streets, ripping off their Spurs jerseys.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Trump's displeasure eventually culminated in him ripping off his lapel mic and storming off the set.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
The anticipation of ripping off hard wax didn’t magically disappear, and for my first few waxes post-birth, my skin felt more sensitive than usual.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
No more ripping off the American Taxpayer.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
There’s little risk of Amodei pulling a Zaslav and ripping off Carter’s wardrobe.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Videos shared on social media showed some fans clashing with police officers, and other videos captured apparent Knicks fans attacking San Antonio fans on the streets, ripping off their Spurs jerseys.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Trump's displeasure eventually culminated in him ripping off his lapel mic and storming off the set.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
The anticipation of ripping off hard wax didn’t magically disappear, and for my first few waxes post-birth, my skin felt more sensitive than usual.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
No more ripping off the American Taxpayer.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
There’s little risk of Amodei pulling a Zaslav and ripping off Carter’s wardrobe.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Franchise removal more typically comes like ripping off a bandage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripping off
Verb
-
Vukelich believes artificial intelligence is robbing teens of some potential jobs and that laws to boost the minimum wage in some states have pitted first-time job-seekers against more experienced candidates.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
This announcement came after two teens were arrested for allegedly robbing another juvenile at gunpoint during a teen link-up at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Some also broke into a tractor trailer, stealing items inside.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
-
Years before winning a Tony and becoming one of comedy’s most singular stars, Cole Escola was stealing scenes on Difficult People.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The reunion comes 15 years after the couple divorced amid rumors of a cheating scandal.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
Here, Ruhian diversifies his skill set, killing people at a distance with a bow and arrow, which feels like cheating.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Beteille said his group was waved through a metal detector before another security employee pushed them forward, knocking over part of it.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
Before 2014, Major League Baseball runners trying to score often tried knocking over a catcher who was blocking the plate.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Even swiping and inserting chip cards take too long, with customer moving to tap and Apple pay instead.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2026
-
Similarly, the hot gas in the wind from the black hole left a clear signature by swiping away the surrounding cold gas, the study has suggested.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Verb
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County officials pointed to state budget cuts and a $276,000 drop in liquor revenue as factors squeezing finances.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
18 June 2026
-
Grip the handles on the sides of the machine, tighten your core, and extend your legs, squeezing your quadriceps (top thigh muscles) at the top.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
As with the studio version, the track began with Lifeson plucking out a delicate intro on a nylon-string guitar before blasting into monster electric riffs.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
-
Vogue’s beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden became a devotee after plucking it from the beauty closet and using it religiously.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Ants, mosquitoes, ticks, termites, stinging insects, and house flies are the most common and costly summer pests.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripping off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripping%20off. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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