Tear to pieces — NYT Mini Clue (October 22, 2025)
Word Tips taps into dramatic vocabulary with the powerful action word REND. This forceful verb describes violent tearing or ripping, often used in literature and dramatic contexts to convey intense destruction. All apostrophes render as ' and quotation marks as " for clean HTML.
5 Down
Tear to pieces
Drop REND and feel the dramatic intensity. Word Tips captures this violent action that goes beyond simple tearing, suggesting forceful destruction. The strong consonant pattern makes it memorable, and crossing letters will confirm this powerful answer.
Crossing Helpers
- 6-Across MAINE provides essential letter confirmation so REND tears through to completion.
- 8-Across BREED provides essential letter confirmation so REND tears through to completion.
- 4-Down SCENE provides essential letter confirmation so REND tears through to completion.
- 1-Down CLIMB provides essential letter confirmation so REND tears through to completion.
Strategy Notes
Violent Action
Word Tips describes REND as a violent tearing or ripping apart, often used in dramatic or literary contexts. It's stronger than simply tear or split.
Synonym Check
Think of related terms like rip, tear, split, or shred. REND carries the most dramatic weight in its five letters.
Alternate Clue
Watch for hints like "Tear asunder" or "Rip apart violently" — REND handles them all with dramatic force.
Solve Smart
The R from BREED and E from MAINE establish the framework, while N from SCENE and D from CLIMB confirm the distinctive letter flow.