1. to tear apart or into pieces forcefully
Usage: often literary or formal
2. to cause emotional pain or distress
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The explosion rent the building in half.
• She rent her dress on the thorny bush.
• The tragic news rent his heart.
• Lightning rent the dark sky.
• The fabric will rend easily if pulled too hard.
• His betrayal rent their friendship apart.
• The earthquake rent deep cracks in the earth.