as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
shredded some cooked chicken for the soup
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Recent Examples of shredding
The virus floods the immune system, eventually shredding our vasculature.
—
Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
Magyar recently claimed that several of Orbán’s top lieutenants are rushing to send their assets abroad, perhaps to avoid financial or legal sanctions, and that others have been shredding incriminating documents.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The Golden Knights came flying out of the starting blocks, shredding the Mammoth with an unrelenting forecheck and scoring three straight goals to open the game.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But the show’s interest in shredding these awful creatures has started to feel too narrow in purpose.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Today, that content is a 17-year-old miniature horse named Black Pearl absolutely shredding an electric keyboard in a children’s hospital.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Satriani and Vai have sustained their respective careers as forward-looking, envelope-shredding solo artists, composers and band leaders since the 1980s.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Sugar became a familiar sight in the surf over the last 16 years, a small white pup who was often shredding at the Huntington Beach Pier among the locals.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
Magyar recently claimed that several of Orbán’s top lieutenants are rushing to send their assets abroad, perhaps to avoid financial or legal sanctions, and that others have been shredding incriminating documents.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The Golden Knights came flying out of the starting blocks, shredding the Mammoth with an unrelenting forecheck and scoring three straight goals to open the game.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But the show’s interest in shredding these awful creatures has started to feel too narrow in purpose.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Today, that content is a 17-year-old miniature horse named Black Pearl absolutely shredding an electric keyboard in a children’s hospital.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Satriani and Vai have sustained their respective careers as forward-looking, envelope-shredding solo artists, composers and band leaders since the 1980s.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Sugar became a familiar sight in the surf over the last 16 years, a small white pup who was often shredding at the Huntington Beach Pier among the locals.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shredding
Verb
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An arrest warrant said Moore assaulted Hyder by grabbing and ripping his uniform.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2026
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His big ugly bill is ripping health care away from rural communities and taking food off the table of Americans.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Testing the technology The new development builds on a 2023 study that used weak chemical bonds called mechanophores to prevent polymers from slowly tearing.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
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What is a better visual metaphor for being a woman in America than the sight of Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) tearing through the streets of Widow’s Bay, shrieking for help and finding none, while an out-of-shape freak stalks her and somehow manages to catch up to her?—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shredding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shredding. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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