RIP Synonyms: 211 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'rip' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave , rend , rive , split , and tear . While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint. // ripped the shirt on a nail

Q: When might 'cleave' be a better fit than 'rip'?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow. // a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

Q: When can 'rend' be used instead of 'rip'?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering. // an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Q: When could 'rive' be used to replace 'rip'?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use. // a political party riven by conflict

Q: In what contexts can 'split' take the place of 'rip'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip , 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

Q: Where would 'tear' be a reasonable alternative to 'rip'?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. // tear up the letter

rip 1 of 3

verb

ˈrip

Definition of rip

as in to tear

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to slit

to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to fly

to proceed or move quickly the car went ripping down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling rip a sheet off the pad of paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattach

rip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in tear

a long deep cut the hoe left rips in the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

rip

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in pervert

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saint

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of rip are cleave, rend, rive, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When might cleave be a better fit than rip?

The synonyms cleave and rip are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 rip?

While the synonyms rend and rip are close in meaning, rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

When could rive be used to replace rip?

Although the words rive and rip have much in common, rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can split take the place of rip?

While in some cases nearly identical to rip, 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

Where would tear be a reasonable alternative to rip?

In some situations, the words tear and rip are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

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 rip

Verb

Jackson replaced Gosling with Mark Wahlberg, an actor who is famously ripped and, as some critics would say, miscast in the film — which makes Jackson’s perspective on the situation kind of hilarious. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular ocean views. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

Double bag any heavy trash bags or loads that contain a lot of wet food to prevent rips and leaks. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 Eleven minutes later, Kane scored the decisive goal after evading defenders and letting one rip with his right foot and finding the top-right corner. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rip

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip

Verb

In a neat little twist, the Giants also have Parks Harber tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A.

— Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
But by the afternoon, Jaime was receiving text messages warning that her neighborhood of Five Mile Prairie was under evacuation orders as wildfires tore through Spokane County.

— Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of tear

Verb

In 2014 and 2017, there were very violent protests; people were burned alive, motorcyclists had their throats slit, health centers were set on fire, schools were set on fire.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026
The repeat was a cleaner A-line style with a round neckline, flared sleeves and a center slit through the midi skirt.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 July 2026

Definition of slit

Verb

But with the Supreme Court sanctioning a White House immigration crackdown, Nelson’s permission to stay in the country appears likely to be yanked within days, leaving French worried.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Karol then appeared to try deescalating the abrupt encounter, but she was yanked by the fan again before security escorted him from the stage.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of yank

Verb

The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Floating in zero gravity, players slice derelict spacecraft into salvageable chunks, while also contending with unruly physics, pressure, and profit margins.

— Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of slice

Verb

Kids in oversize orange fishing aprons hurried to the window where the bird stood at attention.

— Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026
Katalyst’s ground team, working from a control center near Denver, hurried to find a fix and recover the Link satellite.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurry

Verb

Vandersloot also had 10 assists and Cardoso grabbed 13 rebounds.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
When the Almaden Barnes & Noble closed last year after 26 years there was an emotional reaction from the community about a place to browse for books, magazines, puzzles and even grab a cup of coffee.

— Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

riots

rip

ripe

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rip

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rip

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of rip

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing rip

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rip

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes