tear 1 of 2

noun

ˈter How to pronounce tear (audio)
Definition of tearnext
as in slit
a long deep cut repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

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tear

2 of 2

verb

ˈter How to pronounce tear (audio)
1
as in to rip
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

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2
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling tore the book from his hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of tear are cleave, rend, rip, rive, and split. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

When could cleave be used to replace tear?

In some situations, the words cleave and tear are roughly equivalent. However, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When can rend be used instead of tear?

While in some cases nearly identical to tear, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

In what contexts can rip take the place of tear?

The meanings of rip and tear largely overlap; however, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is rive a more appropriate choice than tear?

The words rive and tear can be used in similar contexts, but rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

When would split be a good substitute for tear?

The words split and tear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

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 tear
Noun
The letter brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. —Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025 Last offseason, the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract despite his Achilles tear in 2023. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
More than 16,200 structures were lost to the flames, which tore through the cities of Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. —Kyla Guilfoil, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025 Once a tandem that figured to haunt opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks from opposite sides, the two have not played together since late November 2023, when Phillips tore that Achilles. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tear
  1. slit
  2. rip
  3. yank
  4. speed
  5. scratch
  6. grab
  7. scurry
  8. race
Noun
  • Lionel Hahn/Getty Images For the actual ceremony and red carpet beforehand, Ryan chose a strapless burgundy gown with a low slit.
    — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The look featured a semi-sheer element and included a dramatic thigh-high slit and plunging neckline with thin straps.
    — Julia Teti, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of slit
Verb
  • Cristian Arango ripped a shot past John Pulskamp for the first goal, after Sporting’s midfield was momentarily carved apart.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The Twister: Caught in the Storm (Netflix documentary) In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Miss.
    — Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of rip
Verb
  • That insurance goal proved to be invaluable two minutes later, when Dougherty’s defenders yanked down a De La Salle player in the box on a set piece and were called for a penalty.
    — Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • But at the very end, the movie features a giant song-and-dance routine – a shout-out to traditional Bollywood – that a little-too-seamlessly transitions out of the final scene and yanks you out of a satisfying ending.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of yank
Verb
  • One other handy benefit is that the AI can potentially do the processing in parallel and radically speed up the time needed to get you an answer.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.
    — Ben Christopher, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of speed
Noun
  • Steve Jobs exemplifies the DNA of a founder, having built Apple from scratch by combining vision with relentless execution.
    — Paul Klein, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The Penguins listed Bunting as a healthy scratch early this season because coaches were unhappy with his effort in games and practices.
    — Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Lozano exited the match in the 28th minute after appearing to grab his left hamstring.
    — Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Tari Eason scored 14 points and Dillon Brooks added 12. Sabonis’ injury Sabonis grabbed his left hamstring while running the floor just over a minute into the game.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • And as the pay has shrunk, RSNs and their team and league partners are now scurrying to at least get more eyeballs.
    — Evan Drellich, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Rats scurry across the halls, smuggled in inadvertently between the folds of a homeless man’s clothes.
    — Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2025
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • Losing at this point is very expensive, because all the teams are racing [for the title] and we...
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Medics raced the toddler to Saint John’s Episcopal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
    — Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of race

Phrases Containing tear

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Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tear

Nglish: Translation of tear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tear

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