tear apart
phrasal verb
tore apart; torn apart; tearing apart; tears apart
1
: to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart.
—often used figurativelyThe robbers tore apart the house looking for the money.
We tore the other team apart in yesterday's game.
We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart.
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
The article tears apart the company's handling of the situation.
They tore him apart when he left.
Examples of tear apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When mobsters arrive to collect on an unpaid debt, his tranquil world is torn apart, forcing him to confront his past in a pulse-pounding showdown.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport millions of people who are living and working in the United States without legal status will tear apart hard-working families.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2025
The ordeal that Severide and Stella went through in the crossover, being torn apart and possibly facing death, will impact their relationship and bring up a very important topic that was tabled in the season premiere.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 29 Jan. 2025
Where to watch: In theaters ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ (May 9)
Katie Douglas plays a young woman who moves to a quiet small town that's been torn apart by the local corn syrup factory burning down.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tear apart 
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.
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport millions of people who are living and working in the United States without legal status will tear apart hard-working families.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2025
The ordeal that Severide and Stella went through in the crossover, being torn apart and possibly facing death, will impact their relationship and bring up a very important topic that was tabled in the season premiere.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 29 Jan. 2025
Where to watch: In theaters ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ (May 9)
Katie Douglas plays a young woman who moves to a quiet small town that's been torn apart by the local corn syrup factory burning down.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tear apart
Dictionary Entries Near tear apart
Cite this Entry
“Tear apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20apart. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share