tearing

¹

[ teer-ing ]

adjective

1. shedding tears. tear.

tearing

²

[ tair-ing ]

adjective

1. violent or hasty:

   with tearing speed.

tearing

/ ˈtɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. violent or furious (esp in the phrase tearing hurry or rush )

Other Word Forms

• tearing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tearing¹

before 1000; Old English tæherende (not recorded in ME); tear ¹, -ing ²

Origin of tearing²

First recorded in 1600–10; tear ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

ICE agents are rounding up undocumented immigrants who came to the United States for a better life – tearing families and communities apart.

From Salon

“I hope at some point we run out because we have gotten rid of all of them, but we’re looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Vance has often spoken about the need to fix a "broken culture" that is tearing the US family apart, by undermining men.

From BBC

Not the least of which is whether Watkins sits out all of next season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

From Los Angeles Times

We are in an age of gleeful disruption, particularly as we witness Silicon Valley strategies and the tearing down of the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times