tatterdemalion

adjective

Definition of tatterdemalionnext
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect one of those tatterdemalion towns of the rust belt where the factories closed down decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
wearing torn or worn-out clothes an ill-equipped, tatterdemalion army

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tatterdemalion Overhanging his outer compound wall were the only two remaining shade trees in the citadel, one a dying oak, the other a mulberry tree, and within the compound was a tatterdemalion garden, where a scrawny pomegranate tree drooped with heavy fruit. — Rod Nordland, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatterdemalion
  1. dilapidated
  2. tattered
  3. neglected
  4. ragged
Adjective
  • Instead, city staff could first more narrowly issue an order to repair a dilapidated historic building and then expedite approval for those repairs on the back end, without needing a hearing through the Historic Preservation Commission.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The zoo, which houses more than 1,600 animals, has become dilapidated over the years.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • The ferocious character also features shaggy black-and-orange hair that matches his tattered pants, and a large necklace adorned with teeth.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 July 2026
  • The trailer finds the film’s protagonists alternately hunting or fleeing the vicious creature — or creatures — through a tattered town known as Hope Harbor, a remote coastal village near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • Typically depicted with exaggerated features and ragged clothing – or no clothing at all – these children were often shown being chased by alligators or other wild animals.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sharpen Mower Blades Dull blades create a ragged leaf edge, which is the ideal entry point for diseases.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ragged

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tatterdemalion
tattered
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Cite this Entry

“Tatterdemalion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatterdemalion. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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