tattered 1 of 2

tattered

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verb

past tense of tatter
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the little boy tattered that blanket beyond repair by repeatedly yanking on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tattered
Adjective
The old turf was so tattered and torn that concrete was visible beneath some rips. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025 The tattered Condé Nast publication is among the survivors of what remains of the glitzy magazine world of yesteryear. Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Despite its tattered state, the sofa's unique silhouette and designer pedigree drew astonishment on Reddit. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025 Anhedönia’s promotional art featured tattered American flags, wood panelling, white lace, and church spires; her Southern-gothic alter ego, Ethel Cain, became the movement’s unlikely face. Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tattered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
Adjective
  • The original Toxic Avenger was made for chump change and wore its low-budget nature proudly, while this version, which was shot in Bulgaria in 2021 and involves both practical and digital effects, tries to evoke that ragged aesthetic while working with more resources.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Frost is, by reputation, perhaps the foremost poet of rural, non-coastal New England — of birches and apple trees, of forests blanketed in snow, of pastures sliced by ragged stone walls, and of the flinty, self-sufficient kind of temperament that flourishes in those places.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.
    Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
  • While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.
    Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The drought grew to 41 2/3 innings before Crim ripped JP Sears’ first-pitch sweeper 439 feet to left-center, scoring Hunter Goodman and Jordan Beck, who opened the fourth with back-to-back singles.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Justin wore a neon pink hoodie and ripped jeans and sat on a couch while his son Jack, who wore pink leggings, a pink tank top and a pink beanie, leaned over his dad.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s why new parents should set some grandparenting ground rules as soon as possible to avoid nasty arguments and frayed relationships down the road, according to bestselling author and parenting expert Esther Wojcicki.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
  • New member Kiirii also admits to frayed nerves while mentally preparing for the shoot.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Less than two months later, Diggs tore his ACL in a standard weekly practice at The Star in Frisco, ending his season before it could really get started after just two games played.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Significant Injury Running back Austin Ekeler suffered an Achilles injury, and is believed to have tore the Achilles, though that has yet to be confirmed.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Disaster as Proving Ground The organization’s first major test arrived in the form of Hurricane Helene, a violent storm that shredded parts of Western North Carolina in 2023.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup) 2 oz.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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