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
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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Just around the corner, strong gusts tore shingles from a home, leaving them strewn across the yard.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Then, on a force play, Contreras slid hard into second, banging into shortstop David Hamilton’s left knee with his cleats and tearing his pants.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Microplastics are tiny and sometimes invisible shreds of plastic that can be produced by the breakdown of plastic, the shedding of clothing fibers, manufacturing processes, and more.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
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Rather than melting, the tangy, creamy pimento cheese spread, with cheese shreds still intact, created a bright counterpoint to the charred Angus beef smash burger.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hall ripped a two-out double to left field scoring Higgins.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Schiller's sister ripped the medical tubes from his arms.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Broger initially came across the shattered skull and bone fragments before contacting del Río to investigate.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This post has been corrected to reflect that submunitions, rather than fragments, landed in Tel Aviv, according to the source.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That said, the Google Maps image clearly shows remnants of the former entrance.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
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Along with their official duties, Rockingham said the group also had time to visit some of Rome’s significant sites, from a number of famous old churches to some of the remnants of ancient Rome, like the Colosseum.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And some of the best savings can be found on the store’s private-label Kirkland Signature products, which offer high-quality versions of everything from groceries to household essentials to over-the-counter medications—all at a fraction of the price of competitors.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2026
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Energies like this were common, even ubiquitous, in the very early universe, so finding particles like this is like having a window into the fraction of a second after the big bang.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Will Mecklenburg County scrap future community resource centers?—
Mary Ramsey
April 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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That’s a change from post-pandemic habits when, too often, one blockbuster would suck up all the oxygen at multiplexes and leave the rest of the new releases to settle for scraps.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rotating with the seasons, each dish from head chef Agnar Sverrisson is a piece of art, from the summer-in-a-bowl gazpacho and expertly cooked Wagyu to the end-of-meal macarons nestled into a literal nature scene.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Using the text as a base, this piece tells the story of an unlikely bond — a ship’s Captain harboring a stowaway accused of murder —through a mix of words, dance, music, sound, and art installation.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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