tattered 1 of 2

Definition of tatterednext

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
Sadly there’s little wind beneath this uninspired musical’s thin and tattered wings. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 In the foreground of the painting was a car encampment with a tattered floral sheet woven through the windows, cloth tarps and couch cushions creating a shield against the elements. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Many wore tattered flip-flops or shoes that offered little protection. CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026 This fresh take on the tattered monster is startlingly personal for Cronin, with some of the movie’s nastiest images and ideas rooted in his real grief. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tattered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
Adjective
  • Few have gotten more out of three ragged chords than Diamond did in his first Top 10 single.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
  • By 1900, the Irish-speaking areas were a ragged patchwork of smallish standalone zones, clinging to the island’s western and southern shores.
    Big Think, Big Think, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • When deadheading, cut where the blossom's stem joins the rest of the plant—in other words, remove not only the faded flower, but the tiny stem attached to it as well.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
  • Next to the dog, a faded print of Big Ben, and a commemorative plate with the late Queen Elizabeth II smiling from nine different decades.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • State patrol officials said the crash derailed six passenger cars and two locomotives, ripped open the truck’s tank of fuel and damaged the train tracks.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 May 2026
  • In the first inning of the Yankees matchup against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Rangers leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo ripped the ball to left field off Yankees starter Paul Blackburn.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • Keeping these appliances plugged in increases the risk of an electrical fire from any broken circuits or frayed wires and malfunctions.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 stepped out in New York City wearing a pair of light blue baggy jeans with frayed hems.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Fudd first tore her right ACL and MCL in April 2019 at a USA Basketball event and then tore the same ACL and her medial meniscus during a UConn practice in November 2023.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • As bullets tore through at least a dozen cars, including a state police cruiser, panicked motorists abandoned their vehicles or hid under them for cover, according to prosecutors and state police.
    Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • If this is the case, the social order is shredded beyond repair.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • Simply bake flour tortillas in muffin pans, fill with all the fixin's (like black beans, refried beans, enchilada sauce, green chilies, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese) and bake.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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