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

• tearingly 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

“This is shredding it. This is tearing it apart.”

From Salon

Canned crescent dough, improbably, was just right: pliable without tearing, sturdy without getting tough, and still capable of a respectable rise.

From Salon

Dozens are missing or injured after the typhoon made landfall on Sunday night, flooding roads, washing away bridges and tearing roofs off buildings before weakening and moving into neighbouring Laos.

From BBC

But I don’t because now he’s tearing up.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our focus is on economic stability, fiscal responsibility, ripping up needless red tape, tearing out waste from our public services, driving forward reforms, and putting more money in working people's pockets," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• agonizing 
• chilling 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• disturbing 
• excruciating 
• heart-wrenching 
• heartbreaking 
• painful 
• terrifying 
• torturous 
• traumatic