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
There are tears, recriminations and a surprising amount of joy in the series, which has led to more than a few successful couples. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 July 2025 Achilles tears generally take up to a year to recover from, though some athletes have returned to their respective sports sooner. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
The Guard in 1992 arrived in a city that had melted down: More than 60 people died, 1,000 buildings burned and unrest stretched from City Hall to Hollywood, with whole swaths of South Los Angeles torn to shreds. —Jim Newton, Mercury News, 12 July 2025 Embellishments that are sewn on can easily tear in the washer and if they are glued, the intensity of the hot water can break down the adhesive. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 July 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
  • Made with a blend of linen and rayon, these comfy pants are the perfect amount of baggy, with two convenient side pockets and side slits that add even more breathability.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2025
  • Vonn also had an unfortunate mishap while walking the red carpet in a strapless dress with a daring slit that went all the way up to her hip bone, showing off her muscular leg and giving a glimpse of her underwear.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025
Definition of slit
Verb
  • On July 21, Colbert ripped Paramount and Trump in his opening monologue.
    — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
  • Some of the names on the list are already ripping higher Thursday.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 23 July 2025
Definition of rip
Verb
  • And remember when cohost Jenny McCarthy would yell at male players, yank their ears, and just be all-around crude on said series?
    — Lindsay Soll, EW.com, 25 July 2025
  • Otherwise, the state would yank funding and redirect the city’s 911 response to a third-party center.
    — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 25 July 2025
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Scope of rescue effort ‘overwhelmed’ first responders Firefighters and police sped to the scene of the fire after the assisted-living facility’s automatic alarm system triggered an emergency call.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
  • Automation and the Illusion of Security McDonald’s isn’t alone in betting big on AI to speed up hiring and make life easier for franchisees and HR teams.
    — Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of speed
Noun
  • Instead of developing its own native system from scratch, Renault uses a Google operating system.
    — Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Writing your own code (from scratch, at least,) has become quaint.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 July 2025
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Leave your troubles behind and grab a lime, because Thursday is National Tequila Day.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • Concerned, the roommates grabbed golf clubs from one of the first-floor bedrooms and checked the house for a possible intruder.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • My friend scurried to download it, but then the app takes you to a website that requires you to fill out a detailed form and establish an account.
    — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Crazy ants, so named because of their erratic movements, scurry below.
    — Alina Hartounian, NPR, 7 July 2025
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • Max Verstappen has raced alongside three different teammates since the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, namely Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and now Yuki Tsunoda.
    — Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • Even as Russia races to perfect a nuclear-armed spacecraft, its space weapons designers are likely also preparing to launch a stealth alternative to similarly threaten constellations of Western satellites speeding around the planet.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 23 July 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 29 Jul. 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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