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
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tatter
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
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
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
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, 26 Dec. 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
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Perhaps the Warriors were also buoyed by the presence of Jimmy Butler – travelling to his first game since tearing his ACL in January – and Steph Curry, who remained out with runner’s knee but sat on the bench.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Skin torn off the top of LeBron James’ knee, the Lakers star sharing a photo to Instagram on Monday morning, is somehow a representative image of how the team hustled its way to a five-game winning streak.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone with a shred of empathy would have a hard time understanding why a person would ever do this.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The offerings are pure Tennessee, with not a shred of brisket to be found.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yet Grace is the one who wakes up in space, and this story emerges nonlinearly, narrative flashbacks like bursts of memory ripping through his brain, discombobulated after a long intergalactic coma.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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The alleged thieves ripped bronze plaques and grave markers from headstones and walls of the cemetery's mausoleum.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
About two and a half miles off the coast, a scattering of amphorae in shallow waters served as a trail for archaeologists, leading them to cargo fragments, ship fittings, and ultimately, the wreckage.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This is nothing if not a film of fragments, alternately raucous and off-target.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Bolaven Plateau is a place where remnants of ancient volcanic activity, such as lava cliffs and extinct volcanic craters, coexist with lush natural landscapes that feature breathtaking waterfalls, deep gorges, and dramatic riverscapes.—
Jasmine Ting,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One of the last remnants of this is the Hutchinson Shopping Mall sign, located just across from the Keswick entrance of Camp North End.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Any short-term relief provided by these loans is quickly erased when workers receive a fraction of their paychecks on payday and end up in a spiral, spending hundreds of dollars a year on fees.—
Christopher Greenwood,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
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Video podcasts in particular have filled some of the gap, picking up more celebrity interviews, investigating true crimes and tackling many of the same subjects as their TV predecessors at a fraction of the price.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Welcome back to The Athletic’s update on the relegation battle, where our data and tactics writers take a weekly look at the key trends behind the scrap for Premier League survival.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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But even ending up on top, that was the kind of underdog team, full of scrap, that has always seemed to suit Pitino best.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dangerous winds were but one piece of a wild weather mosaic that included heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat ahead in Phoenix and the return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
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And Ellwood was the Jaguars’ most important piece end-to-end, repeatedly slashing to the rim with a team-leading 19 points and assuming the unenviable task of checking Ralston Valley’s top scorer Caiden Braketa.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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