As　a　typical　brittle　ceramic-based　composite　material,　cemented　carbides　generally　have　very　low　tensile　strength.　Herein,　a　new　approach　is　proposed　to　increase　tensile　strength　of　WC-Co　cemented　carbides　by　forming　plate-like　WC　grains.　Tailoring　the　WC　grain　morphology　and　its　shape　factor　is　achieved　by　varying　the　initial　composition　of　the　powders　for　sintering　the　cemented　carbide.　By　optimizing　the　aspect　ratio　(AR)　of　the　plate-like　WC　grains,　the　hardness　and　fracture　toughness　are　simultaneously　increased　for　the　cemented　carbide.　The　microscale　stress　and　strain　distributions　are　further　analyzed,　which　reveal　that　under　tensile　loading,　the　stress　concentration　and　strain　localization　in　the　Co　and　WC　phases　of　the　cemented　carbides　with　plate-like　WC　grains　are　significantly　lower　than　those　in　the　counterpart　with　equiaxed　WC　grains.　This　inhibits　the　nucleation　of　microcracks　and　enhances　the　tensile　strength　of　the　cemented　carbide.　As　a　result,　the　tensile　strength　of　the　cemented　carbide　with　plate-like　WC　grains　at　an　appropriate　AR　is　increased　by　39.2%　compared　with　that　with　equiaxed　WC　grains.　Herein,　a　new　strategy　and　an　effective　method　are　provided　for　the　development　of　cemented　carbides　with　high　tensile　strength.