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
-
Suddenly, there’s dozens of supervillains tearing the place (and each other) apart.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The shots tore Lee’s face apart.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Riverside native shreds lesser defenses beyond the arc and above the break.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The shred of good news is that this might finally get Kate into the White House, since Grace Penn (Allison Janney) is looking for a VP.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dowdle ripped through those averages by himself, while Hubbard chipped in 17 rushing yards on five carries.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Antetokounmpo grabbed the offensive rebound, but LaVine ripped the ball out of his hands before Antetokounmpo could go up for a putback basket that would have tied the game.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Additional circumstantial evidence included the presence of Halbach's license plate, which was found in another vehicle on Avery’s property, a bullet fragment that was found in his garage with her DNA and Halbach's remains, which were located in and around a burn pit.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The two showers are grouped together because scientists believe that both the asteroid and the comet are fragments of a single, much larger object that broke up some 20,000 years ago, leaving a collection of debris known collectively as the Encke Complex.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Astronomers have unveiled the largest low-frequency radio color image of the Milky Way ever created, offering a sprawling cosmic panorama that reveals supernova remnants, stellar nurseries, pulsars and the intricate glow of gas and dust weaving through our galaxy’s heart.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Excavators also found remnants of medieval trade, including coins, trade tokens and even personal effects like combs and clothing buckles.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Quince is a go-to spot for expensive-looking pieces for a fraction of the price, such as the Italian Leather Horsebit Loafers.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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But these sweeping, romantic images capture only a fraction of the country’s rural geography and the human settlements within it.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Generals capture by far the biggest share of those profits; the colonels and captains who serve under them likely get table scraps.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Vitale loved it, posing for one photo after another, signing one scrap of paper after another, making one joke about his bald head after another.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The piece is a kind of mash up of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Ezra Pound.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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In a 30-minute stretch, Ekko Barnhill, who was keeping track on a piece of paper inside, lost count of the number of cars that stopped at the building's side door.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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