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
-
Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season, isn't close to returning, and Pearsall and Jennings have what appear to be more minor ailments.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Driven by Jonny Greenwood’s relentless score, the movie summons not only the images but the psycho-spiritual sensations of a country tearing itself apart.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After all, that warped sitcom spoof has to be one of the most genuinely demented things to ever air, without a shred of warning and in the middle of the night, on cable TV.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The film’s devastating revelations of intimate betrayals dispel nostalgia and sentiment down to the last shreds.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Glenn ripped himself for allowing his team to come undone after Hall’s fumble.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In order to give life to the book, Rosales drew from multiple locations across the diaspora, taking fragments from Brazil, Cuba, and the United States into a cohesive narrative.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
3 Oct. 2025
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After sampling, genetic material—the creature’s DNA—is collected from cells and then broken up into fragments that are short enough to be read by the sequencing machines.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Planets will spiral into their stellar remnants or get ejected on timescales of 1025 years or so.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
3 Oct. 2025
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Overgrown with blackberries and ivy, the man spotted remnants of garlic from his father's garden.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite costing a fraction of the price of Hoka shoes, 60 Amazon reviewers have compared them to the higher-end brand, both in look and feel.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
-
That is less than one-tenth of a penny per ton, a fraction of what coal brought in its heyday.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The speakers sounded slightly more optimistic about educating recyclers to recognize and refuse problematic copper than lobbying legislators to enact laws requiring more accountability of scrap-metal transactions.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
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The tent is made of scraps of wood joined together.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the shooting piece is going to be key for him — shooting, attacking off the dribble.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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They’re crafted with a blend of cotton, polyester, and elastane, which provides stretch for all-day wear and a flattering fit that complements any piece in your wardrobe.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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