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
Back then, the church’s financial reputation was in tatters.
—
Bernhard Warner, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
No surprise, then, the old playbook is in tatters without a sufficiently clear pathway to a more felicitous future.
—Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Many Arab and Western leaders have conditioned full ties with Syria’s new government — including relief from Western sanctions that have left the economy in tatters — on the creation of an inclusive political process that reflects Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
The nearly three-hour podcast was a perfect storm of virality: comedy, conspiracy, and searing insult, leaving the internet in tatters.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for in tatters
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Bernhard Warner, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
No surprise, then, the old playbook is in tatters without a sufficiently clear pathway to a more felicitous future.
—Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Many Arab and Western leaders have conditioned full ties with Syria’s new government — including relief from Western sanctions that have left the economy in tatters — on the creation of an inclusive political process that reflects Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
The nearly three-hour podcast was a perfect storm of virality: comedy, conspiracy, and searing insult, leaving the internet in tatters.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
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 5 May. 2025.
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