The phrase rent asunder means “torn apart (violently, by force).” It is the past form of to rend asunder. Rend is a verb meaning tear and asunder is a preposition meaning separated. For example:
This community has been rent asunder by violent crime.
The building was rent asunder by the explosion.
This phrase has no connection to the noun rent meaning “money for an apartment.” Asunder is a very old word and does not appear in many other phrases, though you will see the phrase torn asunder used in addition.
More Examples of “Rent asunder” in a Sentence
- So don’t fall for drug companies’ arguments that heaven and earth will be rent asunder if their vaccine patent rights are limited in a one-time global catastrophe.
- It is about doing our bit to repair the fabric of a society rent asunder by Covid-19, one thread of hope at a time.
- Although no bluebirds sang as her marital bond was rent asunder, she and her newly minted ex-husband “walked out of divorce court arm in arm” and “hugged each other goodbye”.
- Consensus is what makes community, voting has the potential to divide and tear it asunder.
- I realised the true function of a lawyer was to unite parties riven asunder.