tearaway

[tair-uh-wey]

adjective

1. designed to be easily separated or opened by tearing.

   a box with a tearaway seal.

noun

1. British.,  a wild, reckless person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tearaway¹

First recorded in 1825–35; adj., noun use of verb phrase tear away

Example Sentences

His character Sol was a tearaway and a fan favourite - and something of a heartthrob - on the soap.

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Tom, now 32 and a former tearaway himself, helps his father run the guitar shop and Ross hasn't drunk alcohol since that night.

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Several Indian pacers have arrived on the scene as tearaway quicks, only to settle into the "medium-fast" category as the years go by.

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There was even a powerful rally-inspired turbo model to whet the appetite of teenage tearaways - though they could never have afforded the insurance.

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Suddenly we had our primary weapon - a young tearaway who could strike fear into the Australians.

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