Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

pull apart

VERB
censure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
admonish berate castigate chastise chide denounce discipline rebuff rebuke reprimand reproach scold
STRONG
abuse animadvert asperse attack backbite blame cavil contemn denigrate deprecate disapprove disparage impugn incriminate judge knock lecture ostracize remonstrate reprehend reprove upbraid
WEAK
carp at cut up exprobate find fault with get after look askance pick apart read out take to task tear apart tell off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve commend compliment flatter forgive laud praise
STRONG
agree cherish defend endorse protect sanction
WEAK
allow permit
VERB
rive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
divide fray rend
STRONG
break claw cleave crack damage extract frazzle gash grab impair incise injure lacerate mangle mutilate pluck pull rip run rupture scratch seize separate sever shred slash slit snatch split sunder wrench wrest yank
WEAK
evulse ribbon rift
Antonyms
STRONG
agree aid assist close combine cure fix give heal help insert join let go marry mend obey preserve push release repair sew unite
VERB
tear
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break crack damage divide grab injure mangle pull rive rupture separate sever shred slash snatch split wrench yank
STRONG
claw cleave extract fray frazzle gash impair incise jigsaw lacerate mutilate pluck rend ribbon rift run scratch seize slit sunder wrest
WEAK
evulse
Antonyms
STRONGEST
attach combine fix join mend sew unite
STRONG
insert

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.

On Earth, the crust is broken into moving plates that collide, pull apart, and grind past one another.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026

Saka's inclusion as a number 10 brings this added fluidity to Arsenal's attack, which helped them pull apart Wigan for the duration of his cameo.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

As the plates pull apart, new magma rises up to fill the gaps, triggering earthquakes and volcanic activity.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023

“About 750 million years ago, the supercontinent began to thin and pull apart like warm taffy because of expansion of the continental crust,” Sandra H.B.

From National Geographic • Oct. 13, 2023

When they do finally pull apart, it’s with a new knowledge.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon