as in to tear
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
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as in shred
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tatter
Nathan Taylor Pemberton,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—
Ale Russian,
PEOPLE.com,
26 Dec. 2019
Kevin Barry,
Harper's Magazine,
2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—
Ruth Marcus,
Washington Post,
1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Verb
Coming down that highway, one’s arrival was confirmed by a row of flag poles holding international flags, tattered and generally ignored.
—
Nathan Taylor Pemberton,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—
Ale Russian,
PEOPLE.com,
26 Dec. 2019
Noun
Rourke himself approached the street at this hour in suave array and manic tatters.
—
Kevin Barry,
Harper's Magazine,
2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—
Ruth Marcus,
Washington Post,
1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatter
Verb
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As the aircraft approached Atlantic City, a portion of one of the main rotor blades separated, the NTSB report showed, tearing the transmission and rotor apart and sending the helicopter crashing onto the Garden State Parkway.
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Mara will have to avoid OKC’s first-round curse, as each of the Thunder’s last two lottery picks have torn an ACL before their rookie seasons.
Noun
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Trump’s appreciation for and emulation of the histrionics of that sport have been much discussed over the years—recall how the late Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt to shreds at the 2024 Republican National Convention to reveal a TRUMP VANCE T-shirt underneath.
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The industry has been keeping a close eye on what Koosha and his producer Tom Rogers have been doing — namely, conjuring a movie out of thin air without a single shred of an actor, location, crew member or camera.
Verb
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Pride flags are once again blowing in the breeze on Kings Highway in Haddonfield, New Jersey, less than 48 hours after police say a man ripped most of them down in the middle of the borough's busy business district.
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Sequined trousers resembled jeans, while ripped denim was finished with fine silver chains.
Noun
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Among the discoveries are bronze statue fragments, signet rings, a necklace with a gold clasp, coins, and hundreds of bone hairpins used in elaborate Roman hairstyles.
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The apartment, though no one’s idea of a fun house, is bedecked with mirrors, and, early on, the cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra uses them to splinter the couple’s every argument into fragments.
Noun
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The heavy rain, fueled in part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, drenched much of the Southeast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, causing flash flood emergencies, washing out roads, and prompting emergency rescues.
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The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur battered parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains and strong wind on Thursday, tearing through buildings, flooding homes and launching water rescues along the Gulf Coast.
Noun
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In many cases, inexpensive drones can kill or seriously wound Russian personnel at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional military systems.
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What the world sees—the valuation, the contracts, the cultural dominance—is the fraction above the waterline.
Noun
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Don't burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill.
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But the biggest reverberations came late that night, as the seagulls picked at scraps in the empty stadium seats.
Noun
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Opportunities to acquire a permanent piece of internet infrastructure are considerably rarer.
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Choose three- and eight-piece sets to fit any need and make an easy swap for reusable containers, which can also save thousands of plastic bags.
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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