tore at
Attacked with hands
To tear at something is to pull or rip at it repeatedly or violently, often without fully destroying it.
The phrase suggests aggressive, sustained effort: The dog tore at the cushion.
Figuratively, something that tears at you causes emotional distress: Guilt tore at her conscience.
- clawCurved animal nail
- shredTorn fragment
- ripTear apart forcibly
- ripped intoAttacked with sharp words
- pullForce toward oneself
ripped apart · pulled apart · rent · gnaw · yank · wrestle · scratch · maul · slash · fray · ravage · anguish · lacerate · attack · grapple · wrench · bite · assault
intent toward object
tore atmended
Restored after damage
repaired · patched up · restored · pieced together · preserved