tears at
Rends with force
Tears at describes aggressive pulling or ripping at something, whether physical or emotional.
A dog tears at a piece of meat.
Grief tears at the heart.
The phrase suggests repeated, violent action rather than a single clean motion—an attempt to destroy or consume through sustained force.
- clawCurved animal nail
- shredTorn fragment
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- ripTear apart forcibly
- pulls apartSeparates by force
scrape · destroy · rend · gnaw · anguish · gouge · slash · raw flesh · fray · pull · slits · heartbreak · torment · cuts · despair · longing · bite · heartstrings