tattered 1 of 2

adjective

ˈta-tərd How to pronounce tattered (audio)
Definition of tatterednext
1
as in ragged
wearing torn or worn-out clothes arrived at the shelter tattered and exhausted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
worn or torn into or as if into rags a hobo in tattered old clothes and worn-out shoes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tattered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tatter
as in ripped
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

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 tattered
Adjective
One-touch passing, feinting and ripping hard shots into a tattered net, each is super-charged by vivid daydreams of glory on the international stage. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026 The look was created from tattered bootleg championship shirts in blue, white and orange, which were sourced from vendors in NYC this week. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 Their vibrant appendages become tattered and dull. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 Nichols organized a day where 26 volunteers came together to replace American tattered and torn flags with brand new ones, including David and Sue Hornbrook's torn flag. — Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tattered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
  1. ragged
  2. faded
  3. ripped
  4. frayed
  5. tore
  6. shredded
Adjective
  • Cool Machine, in places, is a detective novel for men on the other side of the law, who check hunches and double back on evidence and places of interest, chasing leads — and running themselves ragged.
    — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • But even ragged with a slippery ball, the Springboks still blanked Wales in successive matches for the first time since the first two matches in this rivalry, in 1906 and 1912.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The faded fabric, buttery-soft cotton, and contrast-trim neckline lend it a vintage vibe that won’t look out of place when paired with more contemporary pieces.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of faded
Verb
  • By that time thousands of ground-penetrating bombs had ripped through the subsoil with the seismic force of small earthquakes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • In 2018, the Camp fire ripped through Butte County, burning 150,000 acres and killing 85 people.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of ripped
Adjective
  • Jean shorts had a yellowish antique tint and were chopped and frayed.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
  • Yeoh’s frayed satin Dior shift included a leaf print and delicate draping, pairing well against her long, dark hair.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 July 2026
Definition of frayed
Verb
  • For months after a devastating fire tore through seven Hong Kong apartment towers last year, the complex was sealed off to residents.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Instead, this guardrail tore through the Volvo and cut Hannah’s body in half.
    — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of tore
Verb
  • On Saturday, another FDA update said a Taylor Farms shredded lettuce sample outside the scope of the current recall had tested positive for cyclospora.
    — Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • My hope is our offense will be unstoppable, while my defense mostly gets shredded over the middle but masks it with strip-sacks and interceptions.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of shredded

Browse Nearby Words

tatterdemalion
tattered
tattering
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Cite this Entry

“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tattered for Spanish Speakers

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