to shreds

phrase

: into many long, thin pieces
The cats tore/ripped the curtain to shreds.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“To shreds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20shreds. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster