Definition of tatternext
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

Relevance

tatter

2 of 2

noun

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 tatter
Verb
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 This store, along with other Starbucks locations throughout the city, would fall prey to similar assaults during the day, leaving dozens of storefronts defaced and tattered. Grady McGregor, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for tatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatter
Verb
  • Dramatic video showed a large tornado tearing through nearby Ezhou city, where five people were killed.
    Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Bigger and bigger crowds flocked down here as Mexico tore through the Cup before its face-off against England, with many coming from outside Santa Ana.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Their main flaw is that the protagonists rarely display a shred of agency or activity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
    Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • This is a clear example of how technology enables equipment upgrades without needing to rip and replace the underlying hardware asset.
    Amit Chaturvedy, Fortune, 8 July 2026
  • It’s followed by Watts, coming in on drums slightly offbeat, and then Richards, who rips the song open with his five-string open G tuning technique.
    René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • After the cabin lights dim, sleep comes in fragments, and a travel pillow does little to ease a stiff neck.
    Rio Yamat, Fortune, 7 July 2026
  • The most notable finds were a group of gold coins dated to the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361, and a collection of about 200 ostraca—pottery fragments used as writing surfaces—inscribed in Coptic and Greek.
    Anne Doran for ARTnews, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Although astronomers are pretty sure there is a neutron star in the heart of the remnant based on indirect evidence, no pulsar radio emissions have yet been detected.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
  • But beyond these genetic remnants, the exact nature of any interactions between our species and Neanderthals is much more of a mystery.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • The 97 homes Plant Prefab currently has under contract may be only a tiny fraction of upward of 12,000 destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Together, however, the two collections represented only a fraction of the roughly $188 million increase in auction sales over last spring.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday in Philadelphia, Gustavo Alfaro’s team turned up against France looking for a scrap.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • In his second scrap under the UFC banner, Adriano Martins knocked out Makhachev in the first round.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • Gomez's wedding guest dress also bore a striking resemblance to her 2025 Oscars dress, a custom off-the-shoulder piece by Ralph Lauren.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tatter

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!