torn

Definition of tornnext
past participle of tear
1
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

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 torn 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, 14 Oct. 2026 Many environmental groups are torn on the topic but still lean toward opposing the legislation. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026 In Milton, a city in the county, several buildings had their roofs torn off and a gas station awning was ripped apart, according to images from the scene. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026 The loss of De’Von Achane to a season-ending torn ACL early in Week 3 has contributed to the offensive struggles, but the Dolphins mustered only two touchdowns in two games with Achane healthy – and a league-low four touchdowns in four games total. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case. — Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026 Most of the justices appeared torn over what kind of decision to write. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 This is the friction that Tariq felt was a nonnegotiable for the film, factions of an immigrant community torn between assimilating into American culture and proudly celebrating its differences as loudly as possible. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
Verb
  • The little girl would later tell officers that her brother grabbed the knife and threw it at her, the blade hitting her chest.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Fitzgerald then allegedly grabbed her arm and tried to pull her toward him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Freshman Luke Fahey finished the game but looked sped up, at times, in his first significant action.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The rider then sped off at over 100 mph, Wyandotte police said.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ignoring that rule could get flood insurance coverage yanked for an entire community.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Wi-Fi is not free on those services; T-Mobile used to comp at least an hour of connectivity for subscribers, but quietly yanked that benefit in April.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Quarterback Cale Hellums ran for 195 yards and five touchdowns and Army raced past Florida Atlantic 56-24 on Saturday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Jayhawks, who raced to an early 17-7 lead and held a six-point lead in the third quarter, ultimately dropped a 35-24 decision to the Wildcats on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Once the vehicle is loaded on it, the slave deck can easily be snatched with a front-end loader sporting long forks.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Little buried the 57-yard field goal as the Jaguars snatched victory from the jaws (or, in this case, claws) of defeat.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • It was driven by the first of at least three people who would risk their own lives to try to stop him, according to accounts from police and school officials.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The authors found a long-run relationship between top incomes and art prices and argued that high-end art prices are driven less by the average person’s buying power than by how much the wealthiest can spend.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Shohei Ohtani emerged from the visiting dugout at American Family Field with a bat in his hand, and the mass of media members scattered in foul territory up the third-base line shifted his way, pulled by the magnetic force that is Ohtani’s stardom.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • On Wednesday, the Congressional Leadership Fund, the House Republicans' super PAC, effectively dropped its push to boost Tijerina and pulled millions of dollars in ads from the district, a person familiar with the decision confirmed.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Torn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!