RIVE Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'rive' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rive are cleave , rend , rip , split , and tear . While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rive occurs most often in figurative use. // a political party riven by conflict

Q: In what contexts can 'cleave' take the place of 'rive'?

The words cleave and rive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow. // a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

Q: When would 'rend' be a good substitute for 'rive'?

The words rend and rive can be used in similar contexts, but rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering. // an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Q: Where would 'rip' be a reasonable alternative to 'rive'?

While the synonyms rip and rive are close in meaning, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint. // ripped the shirt on a nail

Q: When is it sensible to use 'split' instead of 'rive'?

The meanings of split and rive largely overlap; however, 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: When might 'tear' be a better fit than 'rive'?

In some situations, the words tear and rive are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. // tear up the letter

rive

verb

ˈrīv

Definition of rive next

as in to disrupt

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 to rip

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rive different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rive are cleave, rend, rip, split, and tear. While all these words mean "to separate forcibly," rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

In what contexts can cleave take the place of rive?

The words cleave and rive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

When would rend be a good substitute for rive?

The words rend and rive can be used in similar contexts, but rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

Where would rip be a reasonable alternative to rive?

While the synonyms rip and rive are close in meaning, rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

When is it sensible to use split instead of rive?

The meanings of split and rive largely overlap; however, 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

When might tear be a better fit than rive?

In some situations, the words tear and rive are roughly equivalent. However, tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

Examples 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 rive Hezbollah became so powerful in part because the state was so weak, and riven by sectarian divisions. —

Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024 Written in lyrical, if brutal, fragments, this dystopian novel takes place in an unnamed country riven by military strife and environmental disaster. —

The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Dictatorships have always been riven by factions; their intentions and plans change suddenly, often affected by seemingly invisible details and circumstances. —

Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023 The attempt on Trump’s life alarmed a nation already riven by political discord. —

Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 16 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for rive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rive

Verb

Harris supporters called Trump a threat to democracy for his refusal to concede his 2020 loss to Biden, unfounded election fraud claims and his supporters’ Capitol riot to disrupt Biden’s presidential certification.

Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Having studied the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election, both were now eying plans to disrupt each of the procedural steps between Election Day and the Inauguration, such as the December 11th deadline for each state to ascertain a winner, and the December 17th meeting of each state’s electors.

The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024