rip apart
phrasal verb
ripped apart; ripping apart; rips apart
1
: to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
The child ripped the toy apart.
Strong winds had ripped apart many of the little beach bungalows.
—often used figurativelya tragedy/scandal that almost ripped the family apart
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
Critics ripped the author's latest novel apart.
an article that rips apart the mayor's plan
Examples of rip apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sure, people die and communities get ripped apart, but there’s love triangles and a murderer’s row of character actors being silly and the very real consequences of these tornadoes are balanced out by the human desire to survive and live a life worth living.
—
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 19 July 2024
But the Modi government, which has failed to deliver its vaunted economic reforms, would do well to spend its time governing rather than ripping apart India's composite and complex social fabric.
—Ananya Vajpeyi, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2015
Trump has built a brand by ripping apart his opponents in politics, court and business.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2024
There is an alternative, however: that the black hole has ripped apart a star that strayed too close—a phenomenon known as a tidal disruption event.
—Daniel Clery, science.org, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for rip apart 
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 19 July 2024
But the Modi government, which has failed to deliver its vaunted economic reforms, would do well to spend its time governing rather than ripping apart India's composite and complex social fabric.
—Ananya Vajpeyi, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2015
Trump has built a brand by ripping apart his opponents in politics, court and business.
—Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2024
There is an alternative, however: that the black hole has ripped apart a star that strayed too close—a phenomenon known as a tidal disruption event.
—Daniel Clery, science.org, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for rip apart
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rip apart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rip apart
Cite this Entry
“Rip apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rip%20apart. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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