tattered

adjective

tat·​tered ˈta-tərd 

1

: torn into shreds : ragged

a tattered flag

2

a

: broken down : dilapidated

… decaying houses along tattered paved streets.

—P. B. Martin

b

: being in a shattered condition

led their tattered party to victory

3

: wearing ragged clothes

a tattered barefoot boy

Synonyms of tattered

• ragged

Examples of tattered in a Sentence

a pile of old tattered books

arrived at the shelter tattered and exhausted

Recent Examples on the Web

Worn Washcloths or Towels Go through all your linens in the bathroom, and discard any that are old, stained, tattered, or smell weird. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026

Decked out in a purple velour tracksuit, layered necklaces, a tattered blonde wig, and a tiara, Jimmy is the cult leader to a small, depraved group of satanists who claim to be the son of the Devil himself. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026

Kick your tattered bath mat to the curb, and grab the Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Rug before the deal expires. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

The textured look included Roberto Cavalli tattered pants in a deep burgundy, worn with brown Miu Miu leggings underneath, a Dolce & Gabbana corset, and a Hermès by Jean Paul Gaultier shawl. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tattered

• backscattered
• battered
• chattered
• clattered
• flattered
• mattered
• pattered
• scattered
• shattered
• spattered
• splattered

Kids Definition

tattered

adjective

tat·​tered ˈtat-ərd 

1

: wearing ragged clothes

a tattered barefoot child

2

: torn in shreds : ragged

a tattered flag