Rend vs. Tear — What's the Difference?

To remove forcibly; to rip away.

To remove something by pulling it away from something else.

To tear something into pieces with force or violence.

To damage something by ripping or pulling it apart.

To split something apart with great force.

To move very quickly and forcefully.

To cause great emotional pain that feels as if it tears one apart.

To divide or disrupt by pulling apart.

To divide into pieces violently or abruptly.

To pull or rip something apart or to pieces with force.

Tear (something) into pieces

To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.

To tear or split apart or into pieces violently.

To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident

(transitive) To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to split; to burst

To lacerate (the skin, for example).

(transitive) To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force; to amputate.

To make (an opening) in something by pulling it apart or by accident

(intransitive) To be rent or torn; to become parted; to separate; to split.

To separate forcefully; wrench

A violent separation of parts.

To divide or disrupt

To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to tear asunder; to split; to burst; as, powder rends a rock in blasting; lightning rends an oak.

To become torn

To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force.

To move with heedless speed; rush headlong

To be rent or torn; to become parted; to separate; to split.

To become filled with tears

Tear or be torn violently;

The act of tearing.

The result of tearing; a rip or rent

A great rush; a hurry.

(Slang) A carousal; a spree.

A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lachrymal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.

Tears A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks, especially as an expression of emotion.

Tears The act of weeping

A drop of a liquid or hardened fluid.

(transitive) To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

(transitive) To injure as if by pulling apart.

(transitive) To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

(transitive) To make (an opening) with force or energy.

To remove by tearing.

To demolish

(intransitive) To become torn, especially accidentally.

(intransitive) To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

(intransitive) To smash or enter something with great force.

(intransitive) To produce tears.

A hole or break caused by tearing.

(slang) A rampage.

A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.

Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

(glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

A drop of the limpid, saline fluid secreted, normally in small amount, by the lachrymal gland, and diffused between the eye and the eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. Ordinarily the secretion passes through the lachrymal duct into the nose, but when it is increased by emotion or other causes, it overflows the lids.

Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure.

To separate by violence; to pull apart by force; to rend; to lacerate; as, to tear cloth; to tear a garment; to tear the skin or flesh.

Hence, to divide by violent measures; to disrupt; to rend; as, a party or government torn by factions.

To rend away; to force away; to remove by force; to sunder; as, a child torn from its home.

To pull with violence; as, to tear the hair.

To move violently; to agitate.

To divide or separate on being pulled; to be rent; as, this cloth tears easily.

To move and act with turbulent violence; to rush with violence; hence, to rage; to rave.

A drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands;

An opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;

An occasion for excessive eating or drinking;

The act of tearing;

Separate or cause to separate abruptly;

To separate or be separated by force;

Move quickly and violently;

Strip of feathers;

Fill with tears or shed tears;

"Tear" originates from the Old English "teran," which means to tear, rip, or rend.

Yes, "rend" can metaphorically describe divisions or separations in social groups or abstract concepts, emphasizing a more dramatic break.

"Rend" is often used in hyperbole and metaphor to enhance dramatic effect in literary contexts.

"Rend" comes from the Old English "rendan," meaning to tear, rip apart, or cut.

Yes, there are several idioms, such as "tear apart," "tear into," and "tear up," which convey actions of aggression or emotion.

Synonyms for "rend" include "split," "cleave," "rip apart," and "shatter."

Synonyms for "tear" include "rip," "shred," "fray," and "lacerate."

"Rend" is often associated with more dramatic or larger-scale destruction, like rending garments or metal, while "tear" is commonly associated with paper, fabric, or other more easily torn items.

Typically, "rend" is used in more negative or violent contexts, though it can be used metaphorically in a positive sense, like rending the veil of ignorance.

"Rend" often implies a deeper, sometimes tragic or violent emotion, while "tear" generally involves less emotional intensity, focusing more on the physical act.

In medicine, "tear" refers to an injury where tissue is ripped or pulled apart, such as a muscle tear.

The past tense of "tear" is "tore," and the past participle is "torn."

Yes, one example is from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar": "Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial."

"Tear" is more frequently used and recognized in everyday speech compared to "rend," which is more specialized and less common outside of literary or dramatic contexts.

The past tense of "rend" is "rent," which is often used in literary or formal contexts.