torn

Definition of tornnext
past participle of tear
1
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 torn To protect the delicate tissue from getting wet or being torn, a matte varnish was applied. Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 If you're ever torn between a classic red and a juicy strawberry at the nail salon, why not meet in the middle? Amanda Le, InStyle, 25 June 2026 Mara will have to avoid OKC’s first-round curse, as each of the Thunder’s last two lottery picks have torn an ACL before their rookie seasons. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026 The year before, a smallpox outbreak had torn through American troops outside Quebec, contributing to the collapse of the northern campaign. Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 Trees were ripped from the roots, and two families couldn't stay in their homes after the facade was torn off in West Oak Lane. Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 23 June 2026 When in doubt, reach for vanilla If you are torn between scent families or worried about pleasing a mix of guests, there is a fallback that has been tested across cultures. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026 Place 3 heads of Little Gem lettuce or 2 romaine hearts, leaves separated, torn if large, in a large bowl. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026 Yet, chances are good that once the 2026 World Cup is completed, that green grass will be torn out and the artificial turf will be back in place for the preseason. Jim Reineking, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn
Verb
  • Lamine Yamal, with the ball bouncing inside the box, spun and ripped a shot that Austria's goalkeeper just stopped for a corner kick.
    Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • The statement also ripped Shipnuck for citing a source in which Mickelson's wife, Amy, played a role in his departures from clubs.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • When Kennedy approached the rider and grabbed the handlebars to check whether the bike was registered, the rider refused to get off and allegedly tried to pull away.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Maura Higgins, breakout star of The Traitors, grabbed her best tennis whites to ace the style assignment at Wimbledon 2026.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • District Attorney Nathan Hochman said 33 vehicles safely drove past the area before Bickham sped down the freeway.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Bill Gates and Warren Buffett sped things up with their Giving Pledge, asking billionaire signers to give away their money during their lifetimes.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • For the past couple of years, volunteers have cut grass, trimmed and yanked out invasive vines.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • Roberts quickly gave up a run-scoring single to Christian Yelich and was yanked with the bases loaded and no outs.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Immigrants crowded waiting rooms and spilled into hallways as clerks raced to process around 100 people scheduled for an administrative hearing that morning.
    Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The Kansas City Royals raced out to a quick lead against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Your rich location history and device data get snatched up regularly in such fences by private companies; your present and past self travels through them constantly.
    Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • But the fear of being snatched by ICE agents remains, Neel said.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Against this backdrop, investor confidence in JCET has surged, with the company’s shares listed in Shanghai climbing 147 percent since the start of the year, driven by strong business growth and rising demand for advanced chip technologies.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
  • The naturalist George Forster was fascinated by plants and animals, but he was also driven by a passionate belief in the rights of all people regardless of race, gender, or social status.
    The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Cape Verde almost pulled the biggest upset in World Cup history.
    Rod Beard, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • Garibay’s one-handed save denied Jonathan Ricketts a sure goal in the 64th minute, and Moon pulled a 30-yard opportunity off a poor corner kick clearance just wide left.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Torn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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