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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Dawson was watching as his soul mate embarks on a love affair with his best friend and burst into tears. —Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 As the men walked along the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial to the steps, a united crowd cheered, while some cried tears of admiration. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rally attendees surrounded our group, yelling, pushing and tearing at our signs. —Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026 Vonn raced the downhill despite tearing the ACL in her left knee nine days earlier in another crash. —Andrew Dampf, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026 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
  • Luciana wore a strapless black dress with a slit in the back, black heels, and chandelier earrings, while Matt wore a gray suit for the occasion.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The sleeveless top has a roomy silhouette with side slits, while the pants are slightly flared and cropped above the ankle.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of slit
Verb
  • Of the 605 sites where a multiagency state and federal task force ripped out illicit cannabis plants, roughly 9% were on public lands — up from an average of 3% to 4%.
    — Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The footage also shows the person holding a flashlight in their mouth and trying to cover the camera with a gloved hand and part of a plant ripped from the yard.
    — Hallie Golden, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of rip
Verb
  • Texas coach Vic Schaefer has also yanked post players Justice Carlton and Ashton Judd after on-court errors in the first half, and the Longhorns entered this timeout with four guards and Oldacre on the court.
    — Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Mitchell’s companion yanked a necklace off Reed’s neck before both suspects fled the area, authorities said.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Early in my freshman year of college, a speeding car struck my twin brother, Jim, on a street near our campus.
    — Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Warren tore her other ACL at the end of her college soccer career, recovered and relocated to Salt Lake City to commit to speed skating full-time, only to need another surgery a year later to clear up issues from the previous procedure.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • Use area rugs in high-traffic areas like entryways or in spaces where kids and pets play to prevent scratches.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
  • There was a massive scratch on her mom's front door that wasn't there before.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Similarly, Bad Bunny also stopped at a piraguas cart recreation and briefly grabbed a frozen dessert.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • His piece of genius separated the sides entering the 84th minute but during a chaotic finale, the hosts conspired to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • DeMar DeRozan just slammed a water bottle to the floor, sending several courtside attendants scurrying into action to mop up the mess.
    — HECTOR AMEZCUA, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Each round saw the families scurry across the room to pay rent, pay off loans and rush to school and work.
    — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • Parallel giant slalom requires speed and precision as riders race side-by-side downhill, slaloming around the gates on two separate quasi-identical courses.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Vonn had faced questions about her decision to race on a torn ACL, a devastating injury that has ended athletic seasons for scores of athletes, recently for the NBA’s Jimmy Butler, the NFL’s Micah Parsons and the WNBA’s Cameron Brink.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
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 16 Feb. 2026.

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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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