rive

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as in to rip
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the bitter disappointment threatened to rive my heart in two

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of rive are cleave, rend, rip, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can cleave take the place of rive?

The words cleave and rive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When would rend be a good substitute for rive?

The words rend and rive can be used in similar contexts, but rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Where would rip be a reasonable alternative to rive?

While the synonyms rip and rive are close in meaning, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is it sensible to use split instead of rive?

The meanings of split and rive largely overlap; however, 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 might tear be a better fit than rive?

In some situations, the words tear and rive 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 rive Trust in institutions is at a historic low; faith communities themselves are riven by conflict. Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025 The Trump administration is said to be riven by an internal debate over how the United States should approach the post-Assad regime in Syria. Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 Apr. 2025 Those subsequent parts demonstrated her box-office appeal as well as her ability to grippingly portray characters riven by trauma. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025 The film features terrific archival footage of Los Angeles in the 1970s, when ASCO started, through the ‘80s, a city riven by protest and violence and a feeling of, well, disgust about the political moment. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rive
Verb
  • The earthquake disrupted the World Series and damaged the Bay Bridge, Oakland’s Cypress Freeway, and swaths of San Francisco.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 8 June 2025
  • The cuts will disrupt ongoing research, ruin experiments and datasets, destroy the careers of aspiring scientists, and deter long-term investments at universities across the country.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s one of the reasons why the play’s dialogue feels ripped from recent headlines.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • If your pup is fond of ripping open toys and removing the stuffing, use some of their fur to re-stuff the toy.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • But the Marlins roared back in the fifth and seemed to break the game open with a six-run outburst that ended Taj Bradley’s afternoon and also roughed up reliever Mason Montgomery.
    Compiled From Wire Reports, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
  • Revamping the system could be especially beneficial for small brands, but this would break longstanding business practices and is resisted by existing players in the industry.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Sharpen Mower Blades Avoid ripping or tearing new sod by keeping the mower blades sharp.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2025
  • Give the hydrangea blooms a generous coating of hairspray, spritzing a few inches away in order not to disturb or tear the individual petals.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • The three deputies then rushed forwards and Polk pinned Caputo to the wall, at which point Caputo scratched her and bit her thumb, fracturing her bones, Polk said, according to the report, which also includes pictures of her injuries.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
  • Further examination of the engines found that one fan blade platform was fractured, according to the report.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • The Seagull The season’s starriest show is Chekhov’s rending play about art, love and loss in a new version from Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier, with Ostermeier directing.
    Matt Wolf, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • So, while deals are still being done, the market landscape is fragmented, with varying pockets of strength and weakness depending on the attributes of individual properties.
    John Walkup, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • On that occasion, pundits and commentators walked out in support of him, and the BBC sports schedule was fragmented for a whole weekend.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rive. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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