sunder
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sunder
First recorded before 900; Middle English sundren, Old English sundrian; cognate with German sondern, Old Norse sundra; see sundry
Explanation
Think of the word sunder as violently tearing something apart. A frequent line in a wedding ceremony is, "What God has joined together, let no man tear asunder." Keep that in mind, and you'll have the meaning of the word. Throughout its history, the word sunder has carried the same basic meaning, "to tear or break apart." It is of good Germanic stock, coming from the Old English verb sundrian. All of the related Germanic words, then and now, carry the idea of separation, usually in a violent or unpleasant manner.
Vocabulary lists containing sunder
"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Democratic consultant Jim Ross and his Republican consultant brother, Tom, say their affection and mutual regard is something no campaign can ever sunder — even in these contentious times.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2025
Importing market logic into a longer-term, less impersonal relationship makes no sense, and in fact, it tends to sunder those relations.
From Washington Post • Feb. 26, 2019
Any move to sunder diplomatic relations again would recreate a long-standing irritant for the region.
From Economist • Oct. 5, 2017
Marriages sunder and dates go wrong, especially for Theodore.
From Time • Oct. 12, 2013
“You will voluntarily sunder my last knot, the final impediment to my independence, if I restore your grandmother to her human form?”
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
