shreds 1 of 2

Definition of shredsnext
plural of shred

shreds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shred
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
Noun
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 Shred It For Packaging Turn used wrapping paper into pretty paper shreds for future gifts. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 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 Nevertheless, Qi Chu had used the same smock since his first day at the morgue and worn it down to little more than shreds. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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 Onions and carrots become sweet and soft, while the beef shreds easily into juicy pieces. Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025 The chicken shreds beautifully in this dish, and the vegetables become soft and tender. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025 Extreme weather at the poles stresses crucial moss and lichen, and shreds entire habitats in hours. Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shreds
Noun
  • Lightweight cottons and linens feel airy and relaxed, while washable blends are practical in a space consistently exposed to cooking splatter, splashes, and humidity.
    Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Kitchens and breakfast nooks live closer to steam, splashes, and open cabinet doors.
    Maria Williams, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • It’s generally accepted that John rips Carolyn’s engagement ring off her finger in the park, and returns it when sitting on the curb.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Costarring Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, the film rips open the emotional wounds that are often left by one's parents.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.
    Essence, Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Under her watch, Americans have been murdered in cold blood, DHS has obstructed lawful congressional oversight, dismissed credible reports of abuse, carried out an extreme agenda that tears families apart and destabilizes communities.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Catherine uplifted us in a world that often tears us down.
    Andrew Gelwicks, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The novel is famously austere, with mere glimmers of physical intimacy.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • In non-theme park play, the game revolves around Illumineers, glimmers, inklands, a lorebook and other buzzwords and actions that are important to players.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This was subsidized housing for the working class, with buildings arrayed in an irregular pattern bordered by bits of landscaped greenery.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Beauty benefits aside, the granola is particularly cluster-y and quite delicious, with a vanilla-forward flavor profile and bits of pistachio in every bite.
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shreds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shreds. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on shreds

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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