1
as in ragged
wearing torn or worn-out clothes
arrived at the shelter tattered and exhausted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of tattered
Catherine Bray, Variety, 25 May 2025
Its tattered and faded copy of the Magna Carta is worth millions of dollars, Carpenter estimated—though Harvard has no plans to sell it.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
The bottom half of the dog's body stayed pinned underneath a tattered couch on a pile of trash as flies circled him.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
The other traditional party, the Liberal Party, has splintered between those who remain loyal to Zelaya and those who led the coup, including Mauricio Villeda, the presidential candidate who leads a tattered vestige of his party.
—Dana Frank, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2013
See All Example Sentences for tattered
Adjective
And then, in close-up, a bulldozer turns over rubble, and a family photograph is glimpsed in the debris, a tattered symbol of what has been lost.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 25 May 2025
Its tattered and faded copy of the Magna Carta is worth millions of dollars, Carpenter estimated—though Harvard has no plans to sell it.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
The bottom half of the dog's body stayed pinned underneath a tattered couch on a pile of trash as flies circled him.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
The other traditional party, the Liberal Party, has splintered between those who remain loyal to Zelaya and those who led the coup, including Mauricio Villeda, the presidential candidate who leads a tattered vestige of his party.
—Dana Frank, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2013
See All Example Sentences for tattered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
Adjective
-
The Chiefs were flagged 11 times, reflecting the ragged play by reserves.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Aug. 2025
-
My breathing was labored—short and ragged inhales, long faint exhales.—
Amie Barrodale,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
There is, also, something compensatory in a regard for faded footstools, thick boots and window curtains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Dial options include matte black, tropical brown, and vintage navy, all featuring creamy Super-LumiNova GL old radium markers designed to evoke the faded lume of historic tool watches.—
Matthew Catellier,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
But the Hawks’ present-day problems ripped them right back into the here and now.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2025
-
Milton’s hurricane-force winds ripped trees from already soggy soils, but its historic rain also flooded neighborhoods that had never experienced waters so high.—
Jack Prator,
Orlando Sentinel,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Photo: New York Magazine Bartsch leads the pack, dancing on a speaker (her favorite spot), wearing cutoff shorts, white leggings, red suspenders, and a frayed and cropped jean jacket with holes in the shoulders.—
Amy Virshup,
Vulture,
14 May 2025
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After years of hostile and frayed relations, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen mutual embassies – a deal reportedly brokered by China that has raised eyebrows across the globe.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
21 Mar. 2023
Verb
-
The Carolina Panthers’ outside linebacker tore his quad on Christmas Eve last year in what turned out to be his final game with the Minnesota Vikings.—
Joseph Person,
The Athletic,
24 Dec. 2024
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In its first game without Sixth Man of the Year candidate Moe Wagner, who tore the ACL in his left knee on Saturday, Orlando relied on a wide variety of scorers, with five finishing in double figures.—
Jason Beede,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Later Cardini shredded the leaves into bite-sized pieces.—
John Mariani,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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One vice that Simpson shredded in 2020 was her battle with alcohol.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
21 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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