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

Many more women have earned college and advanced degrees, and hold managerial jobs, than when other technologies ripped through the economy, offering some potential protection from automation. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 Toronto’s captain took a pass from Kirill Marchenko and ripped a shot upstairs on Askarov before McKenna pushed the Leafs in front in the third. — ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Noun

Very simply put, fade the rips and buy the dips has led to much near-term success. — Jay Woods, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 The interior section of my policy covers reconditioning, repair, or replacement of surfaces damaged due to normal wear and tear, including loose seam stitches, rips, and tears. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rip

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip

Verb

However, could a black hole tear itself apart and become two black holes?

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
But this May, less than four years later, it was stripped for parts worth millions and crushed, the steel teeth of an excavator tearing through its fuselage at a facility on the outskirts of Phoenix.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of tear

Verb

Afterward, Lindsay slit her wrists and neck, then jumped out of a second-story window.

— Selena Barrientos, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Instead Justine shows up to slit his throat and take the baby from him, leaving him for dead; the child winds up disappearing with Holtz into a hell dimension.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of slit

Noun

Hansen, who left NBC in 2013 but remains a leader in the pervert-ambushing space, has spoken about having considered a sting operation against Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of pervert

Verb

Carefully tip loaf out onto a wire rack and let cool at least 1 hour before slicing.

— Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Markos takes revenge by slicing up Matt’s face with a switchblade, leaving him horribly disfigured and his acting career essentially over.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of slice

Verb

On a tight end screen with 8 minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Falcons’ 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Daniels hurried downhill and tackled Bears standout Colston Loveland.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Jeff Boschee had no desire to head out of town, to hurry back to Pittsburg, Kansas, after his Pittsburg State Gorillas’ 80-62 Late Night in the Phog exhibition loss to Kansas on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurry

Verb

Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.

— Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of grab

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riots

rip

ripe

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Style

“Rip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rip

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Synonyms of rip

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

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Phrases Containing rip

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