tearaway
1 of 2noun
tear·away ˈter-ə-ˌwā 
British
: a rebellious and unruly or reckless young person
tear away
2 of 2verb
tore away; torn away; tearing away; tears away
transitive verb
: to remove (someone, such as oneself) reluctantly
Example Sentences
Noun a gang of teenage tearaways
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2021 The reveals in this particular lip sync are a wash — neither tearaway adds or subtracts from either queen’s overall performance. Paul Mccallion, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2021 The tearaway snap front top has ‘CAVS’ logo sewn on left breast. Marc Bona, cleveland, 29 Nov. 2020 The royal family’s relatively limited personal wealth, meanwhile, means that there is little scope for playboy princes or tearaway princesses. The Economist, 17 Oct. 2019 For example, though the tabbed interface seemed to work, the tearaway windows didn’t seem to be quite functional yet. Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 22 June 2019 People taped posters to telephone poles with tearaway numbers, and left messages on answering machines! Jason Gay, WSJ, 8 June 2018 Swapping out her striped Kappa tracksuit in lieu of Alexander Wang’s sleek twist on Adidas's classic tearaway trousers, with Burberry’s nova check scarf and an Hermès Birkin bag, Ora’s ensemble was a fresh approach to first-class comfort. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2017 In this nontackle version of the sport, players wear belts with two tearaway Velcro flags instead of helmets and pads. Jason Gay, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2017 See More
Noun
Eve does the saddest, ugliest little tearaway of her otherwise gorgeous Matrix drag look, but Suki takes way too long to take off her own coat and get on the floor and give choreo. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2021 The reveals in this particular lip sync are a wash — neither tearaway adds or subtracts from either queen’s overall performance. Paul Mccallion, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2021 The tearaway snap front top has ‘CAVS’ logo sewn on left breast. Marc Bona, cleveland, 29 Nov. 2020 The royal family’s relatively limited personal wealth, meanwhile, means that there is little scope for playboy princes or tearaway princesses. The Economist, 17 Oct. 2019 For example, though the tabbed interface seemed to work, the tearaway windows didn’t seem to be quite functional yet. Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 22 June 2019 People taped posters to telephone poles with tearaway numbers, and left messages on answering machines! Jason Gay, WSJ, 8 June 2018 Swapping out her striped Kappa tracksuit in lieu of Alexander Wang’s sleek twist on Adidas's classic tearaway trousers, with Burberry’s nova check scarf and an Hermès Birkin bag, Ora’s ensemble was a fresh approach to first-class comfort. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2017 In this nontackle version of the sport, players wear belts with two tearaway Velcro flags instead of helmets and pads. Jason Gay, WSJ, 17 Oct. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1950, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1699, in the meaning defined above
tearaway
noun
as in hoodlum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hoodlum
- hooligan
- thug
- roughneck
- gangster
- yob
- rowdy
- ruffian
- yobbo
- tough
- punk
- hood
- gangbanger
- gangsta
- mobster
- goon
- gorilla
- bully
- juvenile delinquent
- criminal
- toughie
- plug-ugly
- scoundrel
- villain
- assassin
- cutthroat
- desperado
- pirate
- bandit
- outlaw
- offender
- felon
- mafioso
- crook
- highwayman
- brigand
- thief
- toughy
- vandal
- pickpocket
- lawbreaker
- swindler
- robber
- perp
- perpetrator
- malefactor
- bravo
- racketeer
- gunman
- mug
