RIVEN Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

riven

verb

variants also rived

Definition of riven

past participle of rive

as in disrupted

to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly road pavement that had been riven by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in torn

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the bitter disappointment threatened to rive my heart in two

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 riven Bitcoin leadership at that point appeared to be riven by infighting and strong personalities. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 But Trumpism is also what Gramsci called a morbid symptom of the interregnum, an expression of a country riven by political polarization and by economic inequity, and struggling to come to terms with the waning of its singular status. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026 Yet even as Jewish leaders across the political spectrum condemn such incidents, the broader Jewish community is riven by divisions related to Israel’s role in ongoing Middle East conflicts. — David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 But there is something raw and honest about the way the soulful indie-pop writer-singer translates deep personal emotions into music, especially those feelings riven by doubt and insecurity, inevitable in complicated relationships. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 Some came from families riven by poverty and domestic violence. — Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica, 6 July 2026 But Bucks County has also been riven by unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud, fights over book bans and protests over what version of American history should be taught in schools. — Reuters, 2 July 2026 Refugee aid programs have resettled many Congolese families in the suburbs north of the nation’s capital, as their nation has been rived by war, unrest and now an Ebola outbreak. — Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 30 June 2026 Kennedy and his allies have been highly critical of federal expert panels, often alleging that they are riven with conflicts of interest, despite federal data showing otherwise. — ABC News, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riven

Verb

When those signals are blocked, disrupted or deliberately jammed, vehicles may need other methods to maintain reliable navigation.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
While the restorations are only to the marble surface of the building, the meticulous nature of the job would have disrupted all aspects of the Plaza experience for would-be guests.

— Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of disrupted

Verb

Burdi said that when the hamstring is injured, it's actually partially torn.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
This destruction derby, which was recently observed by the James Webb Space Telescope, has a messy distribution of mass that only makes sense if dark matter and ordinary matter got torn asunder during the collision.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of torn

Verb

With two outs in the opening frame, Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca ripped consecutive RBI knocks to put Tampa Bay up 2-0.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Popular at American Chinese or Cajun-style Chinese restaurants, the sticky-sweet chicken is the utter definition of delicious, luring weary shoppers into food courts to find refuge from the bubblegum pink sweatpants and ripped denim.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Unlike Bedard’s other two injuries (fractured jaw in 2024 and a right shoulder injury last year), the Hawks could at least prepare to be without their current captain.

— Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
With attentions fractured in modern life, Gibney hopes there is some benefit in synthesizing information into a narrative.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of fractured

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rived

riven

river

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“Riven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riven. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of riven

verb

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