rip-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈrip-ˌȯf How to pronounce rip-off (audio)
Synonyms of rip-offnext
1
: an act or instance of stealing : theft
also : a financial exploitation
The so-called deal turned out to be a rip-off.
2
: a usually cheap exploitive imitation
a rip-off of a designer bag

rip off

2 of 2

verb

ripped off; ripping off; rips off

transitive verb

1
a
: rob
also : cheat, defraud
ripped off some unsuspecting tourists
b
: steal
sneakily ripping off store merchandise
2
: to copy or imitate blatantly or unscrupulously
The film ripped off a better one made years ago.
3
: to perform, achieve, or score quickly or easily
ripped off 10 straight points

Synonyms of rip-off

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of rip-off in a Sentence

Noun a daring burglary of the art museum that resulted in one of the greatest rip-offs in history Verb the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
From a bird’s eye view, the script (if there was one) may sound like a rip-off of what the unlikely friends got up to before. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 June 2026 But The Beauty is not a rip-off of The Substance. — Barry Levitt, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
High winds can shatter glass, rip off siding and tear off roofs. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 23 June 2026 The man was jeered and then attacked by people trying to rip off the jersey, video shows. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rip-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rip-off was in 1966

Rhymes for rip-off

See All Rhymes for rip-off

Browse Nearby Words

Ripley
rip-off
rip off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip-off. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rip-off

1 of 2 noun
ˈrip-ˌȯf
: an act or an instance of ripping off

rip off

2 of 2 verb
ˈrip-ˈȯf
1
: rob sense 1a
also : to cheat someone : defraud
2
: steal entry 1 sense 2a

More from Merriam-Webster on rip-off

Nglish: Translation of rip-off for Spanish Speakers

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