as in splashes
a very small amount
the vandals showed not a shred of decency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rips
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
shredded some cooked chicken for the soup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shreds
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Serve the sandwiches with frozen French fries jazzed up with bits of parsley, coarse salt, black pepper, and parmesan shreds.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Depending on the variety of marmalade, the rind can be cut into thick pieces or into tiny shreds.
—Amy Sherman, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
My search proved fruitful, so below you’ll find my top picks, including an air fryer that saves counterspace, a set of six dishcloths for $24, and a chopping gadget that also slices, grates, and shreds.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Shooting stars appear when shreds of space debris ranging in size from a grain of sand to a small asteroid collide with Earth while travelling at tens of thousands of miles per hour, only to burn up in a fiery naked-eye display as they're overwhelmed by the friction of atmospheric entry.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The Riverside native shreds lesser defenses beyond the arc and above the break.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Remove the skin, then use two forks to separate the meat into evenly-sized shreds.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
Walston ripped up the card and let the shreds fall on Penn.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices and herbs for superior flavor and potency.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
In competition, Kim shreds with a glowing confidence.
—Aaron Tolentino, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Williams cheerfully shreds the culture’s postlapsarian fantasies of childhood.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
The signal revealed to a team of scientists that LFBOTs are the result of extreme Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), in which a black hole with a mass up to 100 times that of the sun, completely shreds a companion star in just a matter of days.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The chicken shreds beautifully in this dish, and the vegetables become soft and tender.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
The shreds will quickly soften in a few minutes at room temperature.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Serve the sandwiches with frozen French fries jazzed up with bits of parsley, coarse salt, black pepper, and parmesan shreds.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Depending on the variety of marmalade, the rind can be cut into thick pieces or into tiny shreds.
—Amy Sherman, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
My search proved fruitful, so below you’ll find my top picks, including an air fryer that saves counterspace, a set of six dishcloths for $24, and a chopping gadget that also slices, grates, and shreds.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Shooting stars appear when shreds of space debris ranging in size from a grain of sand to a small asteroid collide with Earth while travelling at tens of thousands of miles per hour, only to burn up in a fiery naked-eye display as they're overwhelmed by the friction of atmospheric entry.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The Riverside native shreds lesser defenses beyond the arc and above the break.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Remove the skin, then use two forks to separate the meat into evenly-sized shreds.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
Walston ripped up the card and let the shreds fall on Penn.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Pour the soup mixture over the vegetables and continue to cook until the chicken easily shreds with a fork.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices and herbs for superior flavor and potency.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
In competition, Kim shreds with a glowing confidence.
—Aaron Tolentino, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Williams cheerfully shreds the culture’s postlapsarian fantasies of childhood.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
The signal revealed to a team of scientists that LFBOTs are the result of extreme Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), in which a black hole with a mass up to 100 times that of the sun, completely shreds a companion star in just a matter of days.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The chicken shreds beautifully in this dish, and the vegetables become soft and tender.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shreds
Noun
-
The design here avoids ski-lodge clichés but maintains splendid common areas, including a cozy library and a grand lobby decorated with stone and wood finishes and splashes of rich red and orange hues.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
-
When ready, add the cheese gradually, off heat, alternating with splashes of reserved pasta water while stirring or tossing vigorously to create a smooth, emulsified sauce.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spanning 180 acres between four of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods, Sunnyside Yard is a steel and asphalt scar that rips across Western Queens — serving those passing through, not those that call this borough home.—
Ben Guttmann,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Above this playful mess of a beat, which includes a music box-like instrument that sounds partially broken, Shabaka rips out brief and noisy phrases on tenor sax.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Learning how to apply mascara correctly can level up your whole eye look—but without the proper technique, even the best mascara can leave you with clumps, smears, or black specks across your face.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
-
On Saturday, a gruesome smear of dark red blood could still be found on the sidewalk, with specks of blood being found near a Citi Bike charging station.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the oyster tears slightly, don’t panic; flavor matters much more than perfection.—
Rai Mincey,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
His scientist creator, Victor Frankenstein, reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment tears the unfinished mate limb from limb as the creature watches on in horror.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Yet by the end of Saturday night, there were slight glimmers of optimism for a team that hasn’t had much to cheer for this season.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
-
You’re known for making documentaries about positive glimmers of hope from places around the world where otherwise there’s mostly been doom and despair.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Page has traveled extensively across America and focuses on putting bits of that in his food.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
There were seven dishes stored as clean with bits of food and residue.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Strong adults will let the littles (who really should not be skiing with their own poles yet in most cases) grab their pole.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There are a host of other things available to entertain your littles, tweens, and teens around town, including The Butterfly Conservatory, Eco-Discovery Center, Shipwreck Museum, and Truman Waterfront Park’s splash pad.—
Ronny Maye,
Essence,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My grandmother’s version typically called just for the addition of generous sprinklings of Lawry’s garlic salt and black pepper—and that’s it.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shreds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shreds. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
