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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Ankle sprains occur when one or more ligaments—the bands of tough connective tissue that run alongside and on top of the ankle joint—stretch and tear. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 11 Sep. 2025 Many conservatives mourned Kirk's death, including Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, who fought back tears on the air upon covering Kirk's assassination. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
It’s typed with such pounding despair and fury that certain letters of the alphabet actually tear through the paper (this was an old, manual typewriter). —Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 Her feet would be torn to shreds by the end of the day, covered in dust and debris. —Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 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
  • Laying in an almost illusion deconstruction, the black fabric featured cutouts to reveal the white corset beneath the bustline in a plunging V shape and at the sides, along with waist-high slits on either side of the front of the skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Dream could be seen wearing a navy blue dress with puffy sleeves, which featured a slit on the left side by her knee.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of slit
Verb
  • The drought grew to 41 2/3 innings before Crim ripped JP Sears’ first-pitch sweeper 439 feet to left-center, scoring Hunter Goodman and Jordan Beck, who opened the fourth with back-to-back singles.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Cubs designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros ripped his first career home run right at Rizzo, who stepped up on top of the bleacher seats to make a play.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of rip
Verb
  • By Wednesday, Kimmel’s bosses at ABC—owned by Disney—decided to yank him without a definite return date.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Former Cincinnati Reds star Zack Cozart on Wednesday cheered Disney’s decision to yank comedian Jimmy Kimmel off the air after controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of yank
Verb
  • European firms still face challenges in securing access to crucial rare earths from China, a business lobby warned Wednesday, despite a July deal to speed up exports.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The prediction from the AI on the protein structure could certainly speed up the processes within drug and biotechnical development.
    — Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of speed
Noun
  • Note that abrasive brushes or sponges will leave small scratches on the surface, but, unlike with a nonstick pan, the scratches won’t damage the pan’s long-term efficacy.
    — Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This gap between theory and practice often means that business leaders are at a loss for essentials, like how to build a marketing team from scratch, how to connect marketing with sales or how to create a system that delivers consistent results rather than ad-hoc campaigns.
    — Christine Pilkington, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Plus, grab knife sets and a nifty electric can opener to streamline your cooking.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
  • As Jey checked on Jimmy, LA Knight grabbed the steel chair and teased hitting Jey Uso.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • There were quick glimpses of a Monty Mole burrowing underground, Cheep Cheeps swimming in a stream and Toads scurrying around the castle.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The older dog is shown marching along, while the puppy scurries along, attempting to match its pace.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • Perez has raced for 14 seasons as part of Sauber, Force India, Racing Point and Red Bull teams.
    — Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • By comparison, China’s private and state-backed efforts are racing to build the capacity needed to support their broadband megaconstellations.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of race

Phrases Containing tear

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tea party
tear
tearaway
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Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tear. Accessed 20 Sep. 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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