as in to tear
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
the little boy tattered that blanket beyond repair by repeatedly yanking on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in shred
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tatter
Kevin Barry, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—Ruth Marcus, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Nathan Taylor Pemberton, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, 26 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Verb
Rourke himself approached the street at this hour in suave array and manic tatters.
—Kevin Barry, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—Ruth Marcus, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Noun
Coming down that highway, one’s arrival was confirmed by a row of flag poles holding international flags, tattered and generally ignored.
—Nathan Taylor Pemberton, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, 26 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatter
Verb
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Alma is torn between her loyalty to Hank and believing Maggie, all while her own dark secrets threaten to bubble to the surface.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The director was tearing pages out of the script.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The film’s devastating revelations of intimate betrayals dispel nostalgia and sentiment down to the last shreds.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
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But Trump in his second term has discarded any remaining shreds of conservative restraint (small government?—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some of the turnovers have been bad luck, like when SMU ripped a would-be touchdown away from Eric McAlister in the end zone or when Jordan Dwyer bobbled a pass only for it to be intercepted by the Sun Devils.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Sep. 2025
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Replace the stained, ripped, and pilling linens with crisp sets to refresh your bedding and ditch or repurpose the miscellaneous ones in your linen cabinet too.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Two days later, Zeek was home with his family again, fragments of the bullet still lodged in his shoulder between a block of nerves and main blood vessel.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
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One of Sappho’s poem fragments also helped align the symptoms with love-sickness.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They are born in clouds of gas and dust, live brilliant lives, and die in spectacular fashion, leaving behind remnants that continue to influence the cosmos.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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The team notes that while this is the largest NSR observed, more such remnants likely exist but have been overlooked due to their faint and diffuse nature.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Only a small fraction of players are on it, but there are enough for fans to identify their struggles as the yips, a now familiar term.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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For instance, private equity assets account for roughly 14% of US pension fund portfolios, today, European pension fund’s PE allocations are a fraction of this.—
Aman Ghei,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Charlie is the son of a scrap-metal worker from Newcastle.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
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Mexican cartel activity in the area has soared, notably oil and scrap-metal theft.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The recall is for approximately 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage-on-a-stick products that may be contaminated with pieces of wood that are embedded in the batter, the FSIS said in its announcement.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
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These were second only to the charming spring 2026 collection that, in sync with the theme, hinged on slipdresses with lace inlays, airy blouses and pants with delicate embellishments, crochet separates and lingerie pieces.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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