as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
shredded some cooked chicken for the soup
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shredding
From shredding documents to freezing your credit, every action adds a layer of protection.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Brit cinematographer Ackroyd, who shot The Hurt Locker and Detroit for Bigelow, as well as various Paul Greengrass features, including United 93 and Captain Phillips, is a master of nerve-shredding visual language.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
At one end of the work table, Ellis Coats, large grater box in hand, is shredding 19 pounds of frozen butter, a pound at a time.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Flyer gone damp in his hand, creases shredding how cut cotton would.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Brit cinematographer Ackroyd, who shot The Hurt Locker and Detroit for Bigelow, as well as various Paul Greengrass features, including United 93 and Captain Phillips, is a master of nerve-shredding visual language.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
At one end of the work table, Ellis Coats, large grater box in hand, is shredding 19 pounds of frozen butter, a pound at a time.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Flyer gone damp in his hand, creases shredding how cut cotton would.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shredding
Verb
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Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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Jordan immediately went to work ripping the tile out and scraping out the mortar, and I got started on an email to the tile company.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rodgers had a very forgettable two-year run as the Jets QB over the last two seasons, leading the team to a 5-12 record in 2024 after missing all of the 2023 season after tearing his Achilles in the season opener that year.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Missed the final 14 games last year after tearing his ACL at Tampa.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shredding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shredding. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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