asunder
Americanadverb
-
into separate parts; in or into pieces.
Lightning split the old oak tree asunder.
-
apart or widely separated.
as wide asunder as the polar regions.
adverb
Etymology
Origin of asunder
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English on sundrum “apart”; see a- 1, sundry
Explanation
Asunder is an adverb that means “into separate pieces.” So if you’ve torn your ex's love letter asunder, you’ve forcefully ripped it into separate pieces — and rightly so. Asunder comes from the Old English phrase on sundran, which means "into separate places." It is a somewhat archaic and uncommon word and many people know it only from religious marriage ceremonies: "What God has joined together let no man put asunder." In most cases, you can use its more common synonym "apart" and convey the same meaning, unless you want to express a particularly violent or forceful ripping.
Vocabulary lists containing asunder
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Grade 11, List 3
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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Born in Toronto in 1950, Candy had his world torn asunder at age 4 when his father died.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
Why would they surrender such a deep and meaningful relationship for some short-term tactical gain, or allow a disagreement over personalities or policy to set things asunder?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2025
But as history well knows, all of their lives would be torn asunder by Lennon’s assassination.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2024
The worriers fret that in so doing, we further rip the country asunder because, uh, what if it doesn’t work out the way the purists had hoped?
From Slate ● Jan. 19, 2024
There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
