1
as in fracturing
to cause to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
She was out for the rest of the season after she ruptured a tendon.
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2
as in exploding
to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
The pipeline ruptured, leaking thousands of gallons of oil. The fault could rupture during the next major earthquake. High blood pressure caused the blood vessels to rupture.
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Dissimilar Words
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Recent Examples of rupturing
Today, American Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn successfully completed her first downhill training run after rupturing her ACL last week — and her coach Aksel Lund Svindal is feeling hopeful.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are highly adjusted to surviving cold temperatures by producing a type of natural antifreeze to prevent their cells from rupturing, according to Moleai.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
This keeps the plastic wrap from swelling or even rupturing.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
The infection had progressed to the point of rupturing her eardrum, causing fever and pain intense enough to keep her from sleeping.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
This is to help prevent the tank from rupturing or blowing off a valve.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
The implications of his remarks were enormous, potentially rupturing an alliance that has held firm since the dawn of the Cold War and seemed among the globe’s most unshakable pacts.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Greenlaw, of course, played only one half of football after rupturing his Achilles running onto the field in Super Bowl LIII in Las Vegas.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are highly adjusted to surviving cold temperatures by producing a type of natural antifreeze to prevent their cells from rupturing, according to Moleai.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
This keeps the plastic wrap from swelling or even rupturing.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
The infection had progressed to the point of rupturing her eardrum, causing fever and pain intense enough to keep her from sleeping.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
This is to help prevent the tank from rupturing or blowing off a valve.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
The implications of his remarks were enormous, potentially rupturing an alliance that has held firm since the dawn of the Cold War and seemed among the globe’s most unshakable pacts.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Greenlaw, of course, played only one half of football after rupturing his Achilles running onto the field in Super Bowl LIII in Las Vegas.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rupturing
Verb
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One flight attendant was lifted to the celling and then thrown to the floor, fracturing her spine.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Saxon had abused the woman for years, fracturing her hip and nose and causing internal bleeding, a judge found in a ruling ordering him detained pending trial.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ratner, of course, earned Hollywood over $2 billion with his blockbusters about gunfire and exploding cars.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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Waterfield opted to stay in California; Russell's career was exploding.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After that setback, the Seahawks lost their edge to stay ahead of a league designed to keep pulling teams toward the middle.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Yet the final also required Vonn to push her knee further than in either of her two training runs, when she could be seen pulling back around some turns so as not to exert too much strain before the main event.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After flooding and damage from bursting pipes worsened over the past week and a half at the troubled Concierge Apartments in Rocky Hill, town officials officially condemned 200 apartments in the massive complex Thursday afternoon.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
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Adding White to a young crop bursting in talent thanks to the likes of Ball, Miller and Knueppel only bolsters the Hornets’ chances to end the playoff drought.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Games also keep broadening their reach to new or revisited sports – breaking (breakdancing) in Paris; ski mountaineering in Milan; squash, lacrosse, cricket and flag football in Los Angeles.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Bjoergen captures her 11th career medal, breaking a three-way tie with Russian Raisa Smetanina and Italian Stefania Belmondo.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Small armies of residents still gather to observe federal officers from cars or on foot – honking horns and blowing whistles to alert neighbors.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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After blowing a 22-point lead in Friday’s loss to the Celtics in Boston, the Heat closed its quick two-game trip at 1-1.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mix-Ins for Texture These tasty mix-ins might make the frosting too thick and chunky to spread without tearing or ripping the cake, so beat the frosting with a mixer until light and fluffy, and then fold in the additions with a spatula.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
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In chaotic markets — when silver is ripping higher or dropping fast — dealers may pause buying, lower offers or limit volumes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Three weeks after tearing her ACL, Italian downhiller Sofia Goggia won a World Cup race in 2022.—
Outside,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
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What if the Celtics won a ring without Jayson Tatum, who could still come back this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs?—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rupturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rupturing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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