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

The quasar’s radiation disrupts gas and dust inside the galaxy where it hits, tearing apart clouds of material.

Read more on Space Scoop

Millogo didn’t play last season while attending the Cambridge Arts, Technology and Science Academy in Boston after tearing a knee ligament.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We don’t need this here,” she said, tearing up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The sounds of roaring engines, screeching tyres and cracking exhaust pipes are often heard tearing through streets surrounding the Croydon Road Tesco store, as car lovers meet there to show off their wheels.

Read more on BBC

It appeared that the helicopter augered into the dirt embankment on the side of the highway, tearing up weeds with its tail rotor before skidding across five freeway lanes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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