If you are tornbetween two or more things, you cannot decide which to choose, and so you feel anxious or troubled.
Robb is torn between becoming a doctor and a career in athletics. [+ between]
I know the administration was very torn on this subject.
Synonyms: undecided, divided, uncertain, split More Synonyms of torn
More Synonyms of torn
torn in British English
(tɔːn)
verb
1. the past participle of tear1 (sense 2)
2. that's torn it
adjective
3.
split or cut
4.
divided or undecided, as in preference
he was torn between staying and leaving
torn in American English
(tɔrn)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
pp. of
tear1
Examples of 'torn' in a sentence
torn
Just above the sock was a sharp piece of bone which had torn through the skin.
Robert Wilson INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (2002)
He passed several weedy lots where buildings had been torn down.
Gregg Andrew Hurwitz DO NO HARM (2002)
All related terms of 'torn'
tear
Tears are the drops of salty liquid that come out of your eyes when you are crying .
uptear
to pull or rip up by or as if by the roots
war-torn
ravaged by war
strife-torn
divided by violent conflict or dissent
trouble-torn
afflicted with trouble , disorder or unrest
that's torn it
an unexpected event or circumstance has upset one's plans
tear gas
Tear gas is a gas that causes your eyes to sting and fill with tears so that you cannot see . It is sometimes used by the police or army to control crowds .
tear off
If you tear off your clothes , you take them off in a rough and violent way.
tear up
If something such as a road , railway , or area of land is torn up , it is completely removed or destroyed .
tear apart
If something tears people apart , it causes them to quarrel or to leave each other.
tear away
If you tear someone away from a place or activity , you force them to leave the place or stop doing the activity, even though they want to remain there or carry on.
tear down
If you tear something down , you destroy it or remove it completely.
tear into
If you tear into someone, you criticize them very angrily and strongly.
Chinese translation of 'torn'
torn
(tɔːn)
pp
oftear
adj
to be torn between在两(兩)者中游(遊)移不定 (zài liǎngzhě zhōng yóuyí bù dìng)
Seetore
Nearby words of
torn
torch
tore
torment
torn
tornado
torpedo
torrent
All related terms of 'torn'
tear 1
( rip, hole ) 裂口 lièkǒu [ 个(個) gè ]
to be torn between
在两(兩)者中游(遊)移不定 zài liǎngzhě zhōng yóuyí bù dìng
tear up
( sheet of paper, cheque ) 撕毁(毀) sīhuǐ
tear away
▶ to tear o.s. away (from sth) 强迫自己离(離)开(開)(某事物) qiǎngpò zìjǐ líkāi (mǒu shìwù)
tear down
( building, statue ) 拆除 chāichú
tear off
( clothes ) 脱(脫)掉 tuōdiào
tear along
( driver, vehicle ) 疾驰(馳) jíchí
tear apart
( upset : person ) 使心神不安 shǐ xīnshén bù'ān
1 (adjective)
Definition
split or cut
a torn photograph
Synonyms
cut
split
rent
ripped
ragged
I am usually happiest in ragged jeans and a t-shirt.
slit
lacerated
2 (adjective)
Definition
divided or undecided, as in preference
I know the administration was very torn on this subject.
Synonyms
undecided
She was still undecided as to what career she wanted to pursue.
divided
uncertain
He stopped, uncertain how to put the question tactfully.
split
The government is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy.
unsure
Fifty-two per cent were unsure about the idea.
wavering
vacillating
He has proved weak, indecisive and vacillating.
in two minds (informal)
irresolute
They launched the attack for fear of seeming irresolute.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of irresolute
Definition
unable to make decisions
They launched the attack for fear of seeming irresolute.
Synonyms
indecisive,
weak,
hesitating,
doubtful,
unsettled,
unstable,
tentative,
wavering,
hesitant,
undecided,
fickle,
unsteady,
infirm,
vacillating,
in two minds,
undetermined,
half-arsed (British, slang),
half-assed (US, Canadian, slang),
half-hearted
in the sense of ragged
Definition
(of clothes) tattered and torn
I am usually happiest in ragged jeans and a t-shirt.
Synonyms
tatty (British),
worn,
poor,
torn,
rent,
faded,
neglected,
rundown,
frayed,
shabby,
worn-out,
seedy,
scruffy,
in tatters,
dilapidated,
tattered,
threadbare,
unkempt,
in rags,
down at heel,
the worse for wear,
in holes,
having seen better days,
scraggy
in the sense of split
Definition
divided (especially in opinion, etc)
The government is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy.
Synonyms
divided,
ambivalent,
disunited,
bisected,
torn asunder,
factionalized
Synonyms of 'torn'
torn
Explore 'torn' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of uncertain
Definition
not definitely decided
He stopped, uncertain how to put the question tactfully.