rend

verb
UK: /rend/
US: /rend/

  1. To tear something into pieces or to violently pull something apart.

    1. The dog will rend the toy if you give it to him.
    2. The explosion threatened to rend the ship apart at the seams causing catastrophic damage.

  2. To damage or destroy something.

    1. Bad storms can rend houses and make things fall.
    2. The accusations of corruption rend the politician's reputation making re-election impossible.

  3. To cause great emotional pain to someone.

    1. The sad news will rend your heart to pieces.
    2. Witnessing the suffering of others can rend a person's soul leading to deep sorrow.

Synonyms

rip shred split cleave tear

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "rend" in English means: To tear something into pieces or to violently pull something apart., To damage or destroy something., To cause great emotional pain to someone..

The phonetic transcription of "rend" is /rend/ in British English and /rend/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "rend": rip, shred, split, cleave, tear.

Example usage of "rend": "The dog will rend the toy if you give it to him.". More examples on the page.