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 mechanical process involves reclaiming and shredding pre-consumer footwear uppers in a closed-loop method to create ThermoPlume PrimaLoft ReRun material.
—
Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Schools now can rethink their football status, which could mean shredding those schedules.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Right now your cat is probably shredding your bedspread in a ravenous rage.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Medium shred Sized somewhere between the tiniest holes and the largest ones, this side of the grater is perfect for shredding carrots.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
But for anyone seeking the kind of shredding catharsis that just can't be recorded, the crew have also planned a global farewell tour.
—Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026
Her adorable videos have gone viral several times — and most seem to highlight the fact that her kids are shredding the slopes at such a young age.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
No, back in the day I’d start every ski season by shredding Dead Man’s Gulch, Pulverizer, Decapitator, and my other favorite double-black runs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 2 Dec. 2025
And just for the record, layered MOFs aren't the only things capable of killing bacteria by shredding their outer membranes.
—New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Schools now can rethink their football status, which could mean shredding those schedules.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Right now your cat is probably shredding your bedspread in a ravenous rage.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Medium shred Sized somewhere between the tiniest holes and the largest ones, this side of the grater is perfect for shredding carrots.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
But for anyone seeking the kind of shredding catharsis that just can't be recorded, the crew have also planned a global farewell tour.
—Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026
Her adorable videos have gone viral several times — and most seem to highlight the fact that her kids are shredding the slopes at such a young age.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
No, back in the day I’d start every ski season by shredding Dead Man’s Gulch, Pulverizer, Decapitator, and my other favorite double-black runs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 2 Dec. 2025
And just for the record, layered MOFs aren't the only things capable of killing bacteria by shredding their outer membranes.
—New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shredding
Verb
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Mix-Ins for Texture These tasty mix-ins might make the frosting too thick and chunky to spread without tearing or ripping the cake, so beat the frosting with a mixer until light and fluffy, and then fold in the additions with a spatula.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
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In chaotic markets — when silver is ripping higher or dropping fast — dealers may pause buying, lower offers or limit volumes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Three weeks after tearing her ACL, Italian downhiller Sofia Goggia won a World Cup race in 2022.—
Outside,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
-
What if the Celtics won a ring without Jayson Tatum, who could still come back this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs?—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shredding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shredding. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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