Rent to sailors (4)
I believe the answer is:
torn
'rent' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'to sailors' is the wordplay.
'sailors' becomes 'RN' (Royal Navy).
'to'+'rn'='TORN'
(Other definitions for torn that I've seen before include "In a state of uncertainty between two conflicting options" , "Removed forcibly" , "'-- Curtain', 1966 Hitchcock film" , "Rent, ripped" , "Undecided between two" .)