in tatters
idiom
: clothes that are old and badly torn
They were dressed in tatters.
—often used figurativelyAfter the war, the economy was in tatters.
Her hopes lay in tatters.
Examples of in tatters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Original sin Fourteen years of Conservative governments left Britain’s public services in tatters.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Yerevan now found itself in a hopeless situation, bereft of any real allies, its military in tatters, and an increasingly bitter Armenian public.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Eventually all the controversy and turmoil comes back to bite him, with corporations cutting him off left and right and his numerous hugely successful product lines in tatters.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
In fact, after three years of grueling warfare, Putin’s economy is in tatters as Putin stares down bankruptcy.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in tatters
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Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Yerevan now found itself in a hopeless situation, bereft of any real allies, its military in tatters, and an increasingly bitter Armenian public.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Eventually all the controversy and turmoil comes back to bite him, with corporations cutting him off left and right and his numerous hugely successful product lines in tatters.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
In fact, after three years of grueling warfare, Putin’s economy is in tatters as Putin stares down bankruptcy.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in tatters
Cite this Entry
“In tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20tatters. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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